Author
Legislation in Ireland does not single out any application from a specific nationality as manifestly well-founded in the context of the regular procedure. However, with respect to the scheduling of substantive interviews of applicants, the IPO may prioritise cases of certain nationalities on the basis of ‘the likelihood that applications are well-founded due to the country of origin or habitual residence of applicants.’[1] The Department of Justice has specified that applications from persons from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Eritrea and Somalia may be prioritised on the basis ‘of country of origin information, protection determination rates in EU member states and UNHCR position papers indicating the likely well-foundedness of applications from such countries.’[2] Prioritisation of protection applicants from these states continued throughout 2025.
In August 2021, in response to the emerging humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the Department of Justice confirmed that it would begin prioritising international protection applications from Afghan nationals in line with updated advice provided by UNHCR. In the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, the IPO dispensed with interviews for many Afghan nationals, who were subsequently issued with Declarations of Refugee status on a papers-only basis. This practice continued throughout 2023 in some, but not all cases. It was also announced that Afghan nationals facing transfers to other EU countries pursuant to the Dublin III procedure would have their applications for international protection examined in Ireland on compassionate grounds.[3] However, the extent to which this applied, or continues to apply in practice, as of 2025, remains unclear as data regarding the nationalities of those subject to the Dublin procedure is not readily accessible.
The Department also confirmed that applications for family reunification made by Afghan nationals pursuant to the International Protection Act 2015 would now be prioritised and fast-tracked to completion, with full consideration given to the humanitarian context.[4] However, in the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, this has not been the case in practice. In one case, an application for family reunification was substantially delayed owing to difficulties in acquiring the requisite identification documents for the proposed beneficiaries, as well as a refusal on the part of the Family Reunification Unit to accept copy documentation, despite the obvious issues associated with obtaining original documentation from Afghanistan.
Additionally, as of February 2022, the Irish government had provided visa waivers to approximately 532 persons fleeing Afghanistan, with the first group of evacuated refugees arriving in August 2021.[5] Approximately 425 Afghans had arrived in Ireland as of February 2022.[6] Newly arrived Afghan refugees were accommodated at one of three Emergency and Orientation Reception Centres in Mosney, Co. Meath, Clonea, Co. Waterford and Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.
Subsequently in September 2023, the Irish Refugee Protection Programme announced that this emergency response had ceased. It stated that it would continue to register requests for access to the programme and would accept ‘a limited number of refugees from Afghanistan in a more limited manner dependent on capacity and the application of objective criteria’. It further noted that at present, IRPP resources were at capacity in terms of accommodation and pressures from ongoing commitments from other strands of the resettlement programme. Therefore, applications under the programme would be considered only whereby potential beneficiaries had verifiable accommodation and integration supports already available within their community.[7]
In September 2021, the Irish Government also approved the introduction of the Afghan Admissions Programme with a view of admitting up to 500 Afghan nationals to Ireland. The programme opened for applications on 16 December 2021 for an eight-week period. The programme enabled current or former Afghan nationals legally resident in Ireland on or before 1 September 2021 to apply to nominate up to four close family members, who are living in Afghanistan or who have recently fled to neighbouring territories, including Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Tajikistan, to apply for temporary residence in Ireland. The programme opened for applications on the 16th of December 2021 and closed on the 11th of March 2022. There was a total of 528 applications.[8] As of 8 November 2023 the Department of Justice had issued 234 positive decisions in respect of 623 beneficiaries. A further 32 negative decisions in respect of 109 individuals had been issued. In addition, 68 applicants had been informed that their applications in respect of 183 individuals were not eligible under the terms of the Programme. As of 8 November 2023, 178 applications in respect of 555 beneficiaries were pending.[9] While initially anticipated that AAP would largely be concluded by the end of 2023, as of May 2025, the Department of Justice continues to process remaining applications.[10] In the period between January and October 2023, a total of 476 Long Stay Join Family were also issued to Afghan nationals.[11]
In October 2023, following the escalation of conflict in Gaza, the Irish Refugee Council wrote to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. In its correspondence, the Irish Refugee Council supported the call for a ceasefire and the free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Additionally, IRC recommended that personal interviews in respect of international protection applicants from the Occupied Palestinian Territories be dispensed with where possible, that statutory-based and discretionary family reunification applications be expedited and that the establishment of a humanitarian admissions or resettlement scheme be considered.[12] Throughout 2025, in the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, applications for protection made by Palestinian nationals were generally afforded priority. Additionally, applications for family reunification made by Palestinian nationals were expedited in some cases following advocacy.[13]
Following the fall of the Assad regime, the International Protection Office announced that it was pausing final decisions with respect to international protection applications from Syrian nationals.[14] Following the announcement, the Irish Refugee Council was contacted by approximately 140 Syrian nationals seeking clarification regarding the current situation.[15] In a statement, the Irish Refugee Council queried the legal basis for the pausing of applications and further urged the International Protection Office to communicate to the 450 Syrian nationals currently in the protection process an approximate timeframe in which the issuing of decisions would resume.[16] Additionally, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission wrote to Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, seeking clarification regarding the nature of the proposed pause in the issuing of decisions. The Commission expressed significant concern regarding the decision, stating that the situation in Syria remains ‘far from stable’ and that international protection applicants from Syria remain entitled to a decision on their status with due expedition.[17] As of January 2026, issuing of decisions in respect of Syrian nationals had resumed following the issuing by the EUAA of comprehensive Country Guidance on Syria arising from the changed circumstances in the State.[18]
[1] IPO and UNHCR, ‘Prioritisation of Applications for International Protection under the International Protection Act 2015’, 27 February 2017, available here.
[2] ibid.
[3] RTÉ, Department of Justice to prioritise international protection applications from Afghan Nationals, 18 August 2021, available here.
[4] ibid.
[5] The Journal, ‘First group of evacuated Afghan refugees to arrive in Ireland this evening’, 23 August 2021, available here.
[6] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Response to Parliamentary Question Nos 135, 146 and 173, 3 February 2022, available here.
[7] Irish Refugee Protection Programme, ‘Afghan Response’, 23 September 2023, available here.
[8] ibid.
[9] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 333, 14th November 2023, available here.
[10] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.
[11] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 370, 10th October 2023, available here.
[12] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Policy Officer, January 2024.
[13] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre, January 2026.
[14] RTE, ‘Final decisions on Syrian asylum applications paused’, 10 December 2024, available here.
[15] Irish Refugee Council, ‘Irish Refugee Council statement on pausing of Syrian protection applications’, 10 December 2024, available here.
[16] ibid.
[17] Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, ‘Commission deeply concerned at State’s temporary pause on Syrian IPAS Applications’, 19 December 2024, available here.
[18] Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Response to Parliamentary Question No 120, 14 January 2026, available here.