Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
354. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he will compassionately examine an asylum application by a person (details supplied) and expedite a decision, given the extreme urgency of the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9189/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.
My officials and I are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who applies for international protection is kept confidential. Section 26(1) sets out that:
“the Minister and the Tribunal and their respective officers shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the identity of applicants is kept confidential”.
As I am sure you will appreciate, these confidentiality requirements are especially important for an asylum-seeker, whose claim inherently supposes a fear of persecution by the authorities of their home country and whose situation, or that of their family or friends still living in the country from which they have sought protection, can be jeopardised if the protection of their personal information is not ensured.
Therefore, if an application for international protection has been made in the State, it is not the practice to comment on such applications. The applicant or their designated legal advisor can contact the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate, for an update on the status of their application.
The Chief International Protection Officer and his International Protection Officers are independent by law in the exercise of their international protection functions. They are also bound by confidentiality provisions in respect of applicants as set out in the 2015 Act. As a result, they may only correspond with the applicant or their legal representative in the processing of their application.
