Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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1693. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider bringing forward amendments to the International Protection Act 2015 to introduce a UK-style statutory presumptions, whereby an applicant convicted of specified serious sexual offences or sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or more is presumed to have been convicted of a particularly serious crime and to constitute a danger to the community for the purposes of international protection determinations, subject to Ireland’s non-refoulement obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47010/25]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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1694. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide statistics on refusals or revocations of refugee or subsidiary protection on “particularly serious crime-danger to the community” grounds; the number that involved sexual-offence convictions; the number of such cases resulted in removal being barred by non-refoulement, for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47011/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1693 and 1694 together.

It is a central priority for me as Minister that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of persons in the immigration system who are involved in criminality or who are a danger to society is an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area.

Criminal convictions are considered when processing an international protection application. As part of this, character and conduct checks are carried out before applicants can be granted any permission to remain in the State. An Garda Síochána notify my Department of matters which may be relevant to its considerations.

My Department maintains ongoing contact with An Garda Síochána in relation to any such individuals and it is a priority to seek the removal or deportation of any person posing a threat to public safety or security.

Section 47 of the International Protection Act 2015 provides for the circumstances in which the Minister may refuse to grant a refugee or subsidiary protection declaration. Section 52 of the International Protection Act 2015 provides for the revocation of refugee status or subsidiary protection status by the Minister in a number of circumstances. Section 4(7) of the Immigration Act 2004 provides that a permission to remain may be renewed or varied by the Minister, or by an immigration officer on his or her behalf with relevant safeguards from the International Protection Act 2015 applied.

In consideration of cases for revocation and continuation of their immigration permission to be in the State, detailed consideration must be given to a wide range of factors including the nature of offences, other ties to the State, non-refoulement considerations as well as jurisprudence in this area.

Under Section 3 of the Immigration 1999, as amended, a Deportation Order may be issued on a number of grounds, including:

• under Section 3(2)(a,) a person who has served or is serving a term of imprisonment imposed on him or her by a court in the State,
• under Section 3(2)(b), a person whose deportation has been recommended by a court in the State before which such person was indicted for or charged with any crime or offence,
• under Section 3(2)(i), a person whose deportation would, in the opinion of the Minister, be conducive to the common good.

• 21 people had their international protection revoked
• A further 60 persons are awaiting consideration which may lead to revocation