861 await appeal decisions on rejected asylum claims
Justice finally reveals figure as Opposition criticises deportation delays
THE Justice Department has finally provided the figure for how many people are awaiting decisions on their appeals against being refused asylum, confirming the number stands at 861.
Asylum seekers who have their applications rejected can appeal those decisions directly to the Justice Minister, which Opposition TDs say has led to delays in deportations being carried out.
Minister Helen McEntee came in for heavy criticism when she
‘Processing time is now eight months’
was unable to provide the number throughout the week.
She was initially asked by Michael McNamara, the Independent TD for Clare on Tuesday, but she said she did not have the figure to hand.
She then said she did not know the figure on RTÉ’s News at One with Bryan Dobson the next day.
Neither she nor Taoiseach Simon Harris were able to provide clarity when they were both asked on Thursday.
Yesterday, the Justice Department confirmed the figure.
A spokesman said: ‘The minister has written to Deputy McNamara outlining that, as of January 31, 2024, 861 cases were awaiting a permission to remain review decision.’
After receiving the figures, Mr McNamara, said: ‘They’re talking about this influx of applicants, but they processed applications to remain, albeit one less in 2022 than in 2023, and there were more people outstanding this year than were processed in the entirety of last year. None of which instils confidence.’
Last year a decision was made on 812 cases.
The spokesman said: ‘The current average processing time for permission to remain requests is just under eight months, a reduction from an average of nine months in Q4 2023.
‘A review of processes and the restructuring of the unit responsible for processing permission to remain requests has resulted in this reduction.
‘An overall review of the IPO’s processes, resourcing and structures is ongoing with a view to continuing to improve efficiency and reducing processing times across the board.
‘Our plan is to reduce this time further with significant additional resources being invested at all stages of the system.’
Meanwhile, the British government has downplayed claims by the Government here that the UK’s Rwanda plan led to an influx of asylum seekers coming over the border from the North.
Ms McEntee claimed earlier this week that in recent months as many as 80% of all arrivals have been coming over the border.
Downing Street has said it’s too early to ‘jump to specific conclusions’ about the impact of the plan, which seeks to send asylum seekers coming to the UK on a one-way flight to Rwanda, in east Africa, with the stated aim of deterring others from making the English Channel crossing. Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the policy is already affecting Ireland, as asylum seekers are now fearful of staying in the UK.
He added: ‘Clearly, we’ve had an increase in the numbers coming from the UK into Northern Ireland into the Republic. And it’s fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if you’re a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you don’t want to go to Rwanda – not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add. So I think it’s a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues.’
But Ms McEntee’s claim that ‘higher than 80%’ of all those seeking international protection here are crossing the border has been called into question.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said this is based on the number of people who apply for international protection for the first time at the International Protection Office in Dublin.
But Irish Refugee Council chief Nick Henderson said international protection applicants who make their application directly through the IPO are not all coming from over the border.
He added: ‘A person may pass through immigration control and then claim at the IPO.’