Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have already discussed the possibility of adding further criteria and identifying what is a safe third country. There are very strict criteria, in line with EU regulation, that we are applying to the UK if it is to receive that status. We are not deviating at all. We are not relying on the UK saying that everything is fine. We are setting and applying a strict set of criteria.

The amendment seeks to put in place a new consideration in the designation of a safe third country. However, sufficient provisions have already been clearly set out in section 122 to deal with that. One of the conditions provided for in the new section for designating a country as a safe third country is that the possibility must exist in such a country for the person to seek refugee status and, if found to be a refugee, to receive protection in accordance with the Geneva Convention. That protection already exists within this section. On that basis, I do not propose to accept the amendment.There is a strict set of criteria there. It is in line with EU laws and regulations. We intend to apply this, even though this is obviously a separate measure but will be mirroring the one that exists under the Dublin regulation.