Written answers
Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
International Protection
John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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510. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details as to whether the asylum, migration and integration fund can be used to fund the return of failed international protection applicants to countries other than those on the safe countries list; if so, whether the list has to be an official EU safe country list; if not, if Ireland can compile its own safe country list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52306/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) aims to boost national capacities and improve procedures for migration management, as well as to enhance solidarity and responsibility sharing between EU Member States. The AMIF 2021-2027 Programme, at both EU and national levels, is comprised of four Specific Objectives*, which support the interventions as identified under Article 16(12) of the AMIF Regulation 2021/1147. Each activity in Ireland’s national programme is programmed under a particular specific objective (SO), with actions listed under Specific Objective 3 contributing to countering irregular migration; enhancing effective, safe and dignified return and readmission; and promoting and contributing to effective initial reintegration in third countries. The AMIF fund may be used for return activities.
*The four SOs are:
(1) strengthening and developing all aspects of the Common European Asylum System, including its external dimension;
(2) strengthening and developing legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, and promoting and contributing to the effective integration and social inclusion of third-country nationals;
(3) contributing to countering irregular migration, enhancing effective, safe and dignified return and readmission, and promoting and contributing to effective initial reintegration in third countries;
(4) enhancing solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility between the Member States, in particular as regards those most affected by migration and asylum challenges, including through practical cooperation.
The issues raised by the Deputy with regard to deportations and the designation of safe countries for the purposes of international protection applications is a matter for the Department of Justice. The Deputy may wish to put a separate question to that Department on the matter.
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