Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 October 2017
188. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications made under section 15(3)(c) of the International Protection Act 2015; and the provision made for accompanied children that may present persecution grounds distinct from their parent or legal guardian’s application to have their application heard separately. [45215/17]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the statistics requested by the Deputy are not collected by the International Protection Office.
Provided he or she is not an Irish citizen, under section 15 of the International Protection Act 2015, a dependent child under 18 years of age is deemed to be included in the international protection application of their parent. This presumption applies whether or not the child was present in the State (Ireland) at the time of the making of the application.
When applying for international protection, parents/adult applicants are provided with a detailed Application for International Protection Questionnaire (IPO 2) for completion in which they are asked, inter alia, to provide comprehensive information in respect of themselves and any dependants (including children) they may have. This includes, inter alia, the reasons they left their country of origin or country of former habitual residence and why they cannot return there. The Questionnaire specifically states that "if there are any dependants included in this application, set out fully all grounds relating specifically to their circumstances upon which they are relying in their claim for international protection".
At their substantive interview parents/adult applicants are specifically asked again if they have any separate fears in respect of their child (apart from the fears expressed on their own behalf). If so, these fears are explored separately at interview and fully investigated as part of the claim.
A separate finding in respect of each dependent child is then included in the parent/guardians report pursuant to Section 39 of the International Protection Act 2015.
