Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Justice and Equality

Asylum Applications

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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960. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will be supporting at European Union level the processing of asylum and international protection applications in a safe third country prior to such applicants arriving in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46568/24]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under current Irish and EU law provision is made for the designation of safe third countries, whereby international protection applicants entering from such a country, where a person has sufficient connection with that safe third country, and that country is a safe country for that individual person, any international protection application they might make may be deemed inadmissible. This will continue to be the case when the EU Migration and Asylum Pact becomes operational in 2026.

In common with EU Member States generally, Ireland will make significant changes to asylum law, policy and procedures to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum by June 2026. This will include repealing and replacing the International Protection Act 2015. An Interdepartmental Programme Board, chaired by my Department, has been established to oversee Ireland’s implementation of the Pact. The Pact will see streamlined, faster processing of asylum claims as part of a more coherent and aligned Common European Asylum System.

As regards further development of the law in this area, it is expected that the Commission will publish a formal proposal for a new measure on Returns during the current Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Ireland is actively engaged in exploring further developments in this regard with the Commission and other Member States and looks forward to any formal proposal from the Commission. Any proposals will require to be practical, effective and sustainable and should be exercised in full respect of fundamental rights and international obligations.

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