Five more countries to be designated ‘safe’ under Ireland’s asylum system

Five more countries will be designated as “safe” places of origin under plans by Justice Minister Helen McEntee that may reduce the number of asylum-seeker applications.

It follows an extensive review, although the five extra countries have not yet been publicly named by the minister.

If a nation is listed as a “safe country”, then it does not mean a person is unable to apply for international protection. However, it means a person on Irish soil has more onus to demonstrate why they are, by way of exception, in need of such protection.

It is a part of a government project to reduce the rising rates of migration.

Applicants from countries deemed safe by the State will receive their interview date the day they apply for international protection and usually have their demands processed in 90 days or fewer.

Speaking in January this year, Ms McEntee said: “My priority is that those who are in need of international protection receive it quickly, and those who are not entitled to it are removed from the system quickly too. This is the hallmark of a robust and rules-based immigration system.”

At present, 10 countries are designated as safe: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and South Africa.

Figures from the International Protection Office revealed that the number of applications from those countries has dropped 50pc since the designation was introduced in November 2022.

Notably, since applications to Botswana and Algeria were added to the list in January and February, applications from these counties have fallen by 71pc.

Although Nigeria remains the country with the most applications, the number of Nigerian citizens asking for asylum has dropped by 65pc since accelerated processing was introduced.

The Department of Justice said: “The list of safe countries is kept under review by the minister having regard to the profile of applications being received.”

The criteria to deem a country safe is outlined in section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015. It says: “The minister may make an order… on the basis that it can be shown that there is generally and consistently no persecution, no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence on situations of international or internal armed conflict.”

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan's exclusive take on the day's news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.