Ms Fiona Hurley:

Iraq was not included in the list, yet it is a country from which we receive a relatively high number of applications for asylum and give grants of refugee status. Iraq had the highest number of applications for IHAP that were refused because they were from an ineligible country. Many Iraqis applied under IHAP, gave their circumstances and argued why they should be considered but were refused. Another example is the Central African Republic, CAR. It is extremely rare to meet anyone from that country in Ireland. The countries covered by IHAP were not picked with an eye to what was happening in Ireland or reflecting those who needed family reunification here.