International Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024

Tuesday, 30 January 2024

Ceisteanna (403)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

403. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice how many applicants for international protection in respect of whom was it determined in 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023, respectively, was a determination made that the fact that, a first instance decision in respect of the applicant's protection application has not been made can be attributed, or attributed in part, to the applicant or that he or she, without reasonable excuse, is failing, or has failed to comply with an obligation under an enactment relating to the application, respectively. [3865/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

The International Protection Act 2015, places a duty on applicants to cooperate with the process, and the details of the process are covered in Section 38 of the Act. The International Protection Office (IPO) writes to applicants who are not cooperating with the process at their last known address, giving them notice that they may be failing in their duty to cooperate, and giving them the opportunity to engage with the process.

The IPO copies this letter to their legal representative where known. In the event an applicant does not respond and continues not cooperating with the process, the IPO will proceed to make a recommendation. This is done on the basis of the information available as submitted by the applicant or their legal representative. Such recommendations are then followed by the normal steps, up to and including issuing a Deportation Order. Separate statistics are not available on the number of cases that were concluded in these circumstances for the years in question.