Alan Kelly
Question:861. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many appeals were scheduled to be heard online and how many appeals were heard online, in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12195/24]
View answerWednesday, 20 March 2024
Questions (861, 862)
Alan Kelly
Question:862. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice how many appeals were scheduled for in-person hearings and how many in-person hearings were held in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [12196/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 861 and 862 together.
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the International Protection Act 2015.
As part of the ongoing modernisation of the international protection process, many innovations were developed in-house and introduced by the Tribunal team over the last number of years. This includes the use of audio video technology for Tribunal hearing.
The majority of hearings in 2023 (over 89%) took place via remote audio-video technology. The Tribunal also decides certain appeals on the papers, i.e. without an oral hearing.
The table below show the number of appeals that IPAT scheduled both online and in person, and the number of appeals heard online and in person.
|
IPAT Hearings |
|||
|
Online |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Scheduled |
1214 |
1540 |
1870 |
|
Appeals Heard |
631 |
766 |
1008 |
|
Part Heard |
52 |
92 |
109 |
|
In Person |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Scheduled |
955 |
341 |
221 |
|
Appeals Heard |
133 |
155 |
139 |
|
Part Heard |
16 |
5 |
12 |
The Tribunal records a high number of hearing postponements and analysis carried out for 2023 shows that in the majority of cases, the postponement was granted at the request of an appellant or their legal representative. Reasons for such postponements include technical issues preventing the appellant from participating in an audio video hearing, the need for additional time for a legal representative to prepare for the hearing or to obtain relevant documents, or when the legal representative was unavailable on the date scheduled.
The Tribunal continues to work with its stakeholders to reduce the number of postponements in order to further increase efficiencies in the delivery of its statutory mandate.
Question No. 862 answered with Question No. 861.
Question No. 863 answered with Question No. 856.