Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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54. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the avenues available to persons outside of the EU wishing to seek asylum in the EU or a specific country in the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12612/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with international norms, applications for international protection in Ireland are not accepted from persons who are resident or present in other countries as our protection process is based on applications being made within the Irish jurisdiction. Section 15(1) of the International Protection Act 2015 provides that a person who is at the frontiers of the State or who is present in the State may make an application to the Minister for international protection status.

The EU Dublin Regulation (604/2013) establishes the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the EU Member States. The arrangements applicable in other EU Member States with regard to acceptance of applicants for international protection are a matter for the individual Member State concerned.

Ireland remains fully committed to playing our part in addressing the migration crisis in the Middle East and elsewhere. The Deputy will be aware that, in addition to accepting applications for protection status from persons who are inside or at the frontiers of the State, Ireland is a voluntary participant in the EU Relocation Programme which establishes provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece arising from the EU migrant crisis situation in the Mediterranean area. This programme, which was agreed at European level in September 2015, provides for the transfer of 160,000 persons in clear need of international protection from Italy and Greece to other Member States where their applications for protection will be examined. The programme provides for the relocation of persons on a phased basis. Approximately 2,600 asylum seekers are expected to be relocated to Ireland over the course of the Programme. In addition, the Deputy will also be aware that 1,040 programme refugees will be resettled from Lebanon to Ireland as part of the UNHCR-led Resettlement programme. These commitments are being delivered under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.

Ireland continues to participate at EU and international level in ongoing efforts to address the migrant crisis.