The International Protection System:
Procedure
The Procedure
There are certain specific procedures that applicants should be aware of when applying for international protection.
1. Inadmissible applications
An application for international protection is deemed “inadmissible” where:
- another Member State of the European Union has granted refugee status or subsidiary protection status to the person
- a country other than a Member State of the European Union is deemed a “first country of asylum”
- The person arrived in the State from a safe third country that is a safe country for the person
2. Dublin III Regulation
This Regulation outlines which Member State is responsible for examining an application for international protection.
3. Accelerated procedures for safe countries of origin
- Certain countries are designated as “safe” and will be considered as safe to return to unless the applicant can submit serious grounds for consideration that it is not safe in their particular circumstances
- Applications from nationals of “safe” countries will be accelerated
- It is intended that an initial IPO decision would issue within 90 days of the application being made
- Section 35 interview date is given on the day the application is made
4. Prioritisation
An IPO prioritisation note outlines that certain applicants will be prioritised.
- The purpose of this is to enable early identification of likely well-founded cases and cases involving children or the elderly
- Prioritisation relates solely to the scheduling of interviews and will not pre-determine any recommendation to be made
5. Subsequent applications
An applicant who wishes to make a second application must first obtain the consent of the Minister for Justice.
The Minister’s consent may be granted if:
- New information is available making it significantly more likely that they will qualify for international protection and the applicant was incapable of providing that information previously; or
- A previous application was withdrawn (or deemed to have been) when the applicant was, through no fault of their own, incapable of pursuing it.
International Protection System

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