Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, prior to UK exit from the EU, the provisions of the Dublin Regulation applied to the management of applicants arriving in Ireland from the UK and vice versa. In practice, and in keeping with the experience of all Member States, the Dublin Regulation arrangements were not effective. Across the EU the rate of transfer compared to request remains low.

There are various factors that affect transfers under Dublin III. People that are subject to a transfer decision often evade being sent back to the Member State responsible, people can appeal the decision to move them, and they can take a judicial review against the decision. Often it is not possible within the 6 month timeframe provided for under the Regulation to arrange a transfer due to the complex steps in the current system.

The Deputy will also be aware that, in the context of UK exit, a reciprocal arrangement was put in place to ensure that neither of our countries are a place for people to evade or obstruct the immigration controls and processes of the other. Our operation of this arrangement was impacted initially by the suspension of non-criminal removals during Covid and subsequently by legal challenges. These have led to a High Court judgment which identified a legal issue which had a bearing on the operation of that arrangement. I am bringing forward legislative changes to ensure that the arrangement can be operationalised.

The following numbers of persons were transferred to the UK since 2015.

Transfers did not occur in subsequent years due to the suspension of non-criminal removals during Covid and subsequently by legal challenges.