Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

642. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether he will permit this Deputy to visit the International Protection Office to see the operation and to ask questions of the staff. [7368/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While visits can be arranged for members of the relevant Oireachtas Committee, it is not the practice to arrange meetings with operational officials in the course of their work. My Department can of course arrange for a briefing for the Deputy with the senior officials responsible for managing the International Protection Office.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

643. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the purpose of having presenting officers present at international protection appeal hearings; the number of times a presenting officer was present during an appeal in 2024, in the context of the overall number of appeals that were heard; if there has been a change in his Department’s policy to not have a presenting officer present for every appeal; if so, the reasons for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7369/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Up to the 1st of October 2023 it was the usual practice for a representative of the Department to attend at all oral appeal hearings held by International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT), to assist the Tribunal by explaining the reasons behind the recommendation made in the case in question. Attendance is not mandatory or a statutory requirement of the International Protection Act.

From 2nd October 2023 a new process began under which presenting officers were not automatically assigned to all oral international protection appeals concerning applicants from Safe Countries. This was further extended in 2024 to include newly designated Safe Countries, Dublin III regulation oral appeal hearings and oral appeal hearings where the country of origin of the applicant was the countries with the largest number of applications and therefore considered under the accelerated process.

This is one of several measures introduced to improve the end-to-end international protection process and to use personnel and resources in the most effective and efficient manner. It was informed in particular by an assessment of the complexity of particular categories of cases. Rather than be deployed to attend all Tribunal hearings, priority was given to increasing staff and Panel Members working at first instance decision making stages as well as to attending certain hearings where a presenting officer was most likely to be needed to explain the recommendation made.

The Tribunal can request clarifications from the International Protection Office if necessary.

These arrangements are kept under ongoing review including as to outcome of appeals.

The data requested by the Deputy is in the table attached.