Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2023
433. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of asylum applications refused from 2016 to 2022 on the grounds that the applicant had already applied for asylum in another country, contrary to the Dublin Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21199/23]
View answerThe State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously.
My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained.
Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 (Dublin III Regulations), came into force on 19 July 2013, and lays down the criteria and mechanisms for determining which EU country is responsible for examining an asylum application.
In practical terms, the Dublin Regulation determines which EU Member State is responsible for examining an international protection application. It is based on the principle that the first Member State to facilitate entry to the EU should be responsible for examining the protection application. The making of a transfer decision under the EU Dublin Regulation is not a deportation order.
Consideration as to the application of the Dublin Regulation is carried out within the International Protection Office once a person has sought protection and persons whose case has been determined under the Regulation are entitled to a full appeal of that determination to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal. In practice, and in keeping with the experience of all Member States, effecting transfers under the Regulation is challenging, and reforming these arrangements therefore forms a key part of the ongoing discussions at EU level with respect to agreeing a new Migration and Asylum Pact.
The following table sets out the number of people subject to a Transfer Order that was effected.
|
Year |
Applicants subject to a Transfer Order and transferred to another EU Member State |
|
2016 |
0 |
|
2017 |
1 |
|
2018 |
5 |
|
2019 |
2 |
|
2020 |
1 |
|
2021 |
3 |
|
2022 |
3 |
|
2023 |
0 |
|
Totals |
15 |
