The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has today updated her Cabinet colleagues on new additions to the Safe Countries of Origin list.
The addition of Brazil, Egypt, India, Malawi and Morocco to the safe country list will bring the total number of safe countries to 15.
The existing list of safe countries includes Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of), Montenegro, Serbia and South Africa.
Under an accelerated decision-making process introduced by the Minister in November 2022, applicants from safe countries are currently receiving first decisions in less than 90 days.
While people from safe countries are still entitled to apply for international protection and have their application considered thoroughly, they will have to submit grounds that the country is not safe in terms of their personal circumstances
On this point, Minister McEntee said:
“People who are in need of international protection should receive it quickly, and those who are not entitled to it should be returned to their country quickly also. This is the basis of Ireland’s firm but fair migration system, which is rules-based, with rules that are enforced, and seen to be enforced.
“I have also extended prioritisation and accelerated processing of international protection applications beyond safe countries of origin to applications from the country of origin with the highest number of applications. International protection applicants from the country which has had the highest number coming to Ireland over the previous three months, will go into the accelerated process.
“These measures have proven effective. The number of applications from safe countries has reduced by more than 50% since I introduced the accelerated procedure.
“It is important to emphasise however, that an application by a person from a safe country still receives a full consideration on its merit by the International Protection Office. We have seen that in the current list of safe countries, people are of course still granted International Protection where they can show that their country is not safe for them.”
Notes to Editors
Safe Countries of Origin
Under section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 the Minister may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin.
In deciding to make such an order, the Minister must be satisfied that, on the basis of the legal situation, the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, 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 in situations of international or internal armed conflict.
The following countries were designated as safe countries of origin with effect from 16 April 2018 under the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2018:
• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Georgia
• Kosovo
• Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of)
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• South Africa
Algeria and Botswana were also added to this list in January 2024. Applications from Algeria and Botswana have reduced by 71% since their designation as safe countries of origin.
Since the introduction of accelerated processing for the country with the highest number of applications in the previous 3 months (Nigeria) applications have almost halved also.
On 8 November 2022, following a significant increase in the number of applicants for international protection post-pandemic, the International Protection Office (IPO) of the Department of Justice introduced new procedures for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin.
Under new accelerated procedures, the applicant continues to have the opportunity to submit grounds, in writing and at interview, as to why their country is not safe for them and those grounds are given due consideration. Furthermore, all applicants have the right to appeal a negative recommendation by the IPO to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT).
A country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where it can be shown that, based on the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, it can be shown that there is generally and consistently no persecution, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or armed conflict.
The assessment is based on a range of sources of information, including from other EU Member States, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Council of Europe and other international organisations as appropriate. The Department of Foreign Affairs and key NGO’s including UNHCR and Irish Refugee Council (IRC) are also consulted as part of the process.
