Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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673. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, under the proposal brought forward by the EU Commission on 16 April for an EU list of safe countries of origin, member states will be able to maintain their own list of safe countries of origin which is different to those designated by the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25477/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Under section 72 of the International Protection Act, the Minister for Justice may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. I keep the list of safe countries under review.

The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be done through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.

The Asylum Procedure Regulation (Regulation 2024/1348) makes provision for the designation of safe countries of origin at European Union level. Common designation of safe countries of origin at Union level should ensure that the safe country of origin concept is applied by all Member States in a uniform manner in relation to applicants whose countries of origin are designated as safe at Union level.

This is expected to facilitate convergence in the examination of applications and relevant procedures. Article 64 of the Asylum Procedure Regulation provides that Member States may retain or introduce legislation that allows for the national designation of safe countries of origin other than those designated at Union level for the purpose of examining applications for international protection.

The General Scheme of the International Protection Bill, which was approved by Government in April, makes provision for the Minister for Justice to designate or partially designate safe countries of origin. It also provides for designations of safe countries of origin at EU level to be applied in the examination of international protection applications in Ireland.

The Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level (COM/2025/186), as published, does not propose to amend Article 64 of the Asylum Procedure Regulation. Therefore, the right of Member States to designate additional countries outside the common list will continue.