Asylum clampdown on EU registered refugees
Fast-track system set to be put in place by Justice Minister today
JUSTICE Minister Helen Mcentee will “clamp down” on people arriving in Ireland who already have refugee status in another European state, Cabinet ministers will be told.
Minister Mcentee will confirm that a fast-track “inadmissibility procedure” will be introduced from tomorrow for people seeking asylum or refuge when they have already been given protection in another state.
The Minister will bring the plans to this morning’s Cabinet meeting as part of a change to Ireland’s asylum process.
Ms Mcentee will also tell her Cabinet colleagues that she intends to increase the number of International Protection applicants subject to fast processing.
She will sign orders to add two countries to the safe
Helen Mcentee country list – Algeria and Botswana. International Protection applicants coming from safe countries have their cases considered and decisions issued within a maximum of 90 days.
The accelerated processing will also come into effect from tomorrow.
Sources described “safe countries” as ones where there is generally “no persecution, torture, inhumane treatment or conflict”. In November 2022, Minister Mcentee put fast processing in place for applicants from eight countries which were already considered safe by Ireland.
This included Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and South Africa.
Elsewhere, Tanaiste Micheal Martin will inform Ministers where they will be going for St Patrick’s Day today.
In 2023, there were 77 programmes undertaken in more than 70 cities across 41 countries by Ministers and Ministers of State.
It is understood that it is planned to match this level of ambition in 2024.