The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, is set to include Egypt, Morocco, India, Brazil, and Malawi to Ireland’s list of safe countries. This decision will ensure that asylum seekers from these nations will have their International Protection applications processed in just three months.
As the topic of immigration gains prominence in public opinion polls, the government believes that addressing accommodation for those seeking International Protection also requires a closer examination of immigration processes.
While being designated as a “safe country” does not prevent individuals from applying for international protection, it does require them to prove why they are in need of protection. This move will lead to accelerated processing for asylum applicants from the newly added countries, with decisions made within 90 days.
Safe countries of origin are those where no persecution, torture, inhuman treatment, or indiscriminate violence is consistently reported. Ireland’s current list includes ten countries and was established in November 2022.
