Asylum in Ireland

Ireland acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol in 1956 and 1968 respectively and has cooperated extensively with UNHCR especially since the mid-1990s when Ireland experienced an increase in asylum applications. The outcome has been the adoption of the 1996 Refugee Act, which largely complied with the 1951 Refugee Convention in relation to the refugee definition, respect for non-refoulement and detention, and the establishment of the asylum institution in Ireland which include, among others, a fair and efficient asylum procedure and adequate reception structures.

In 2009 and 2010 a range of legislative changes are planned. This will be a unique opportunity to address key aspects of the asylum system that have been in need of a number of anticipated improvements, in particular relating to the protection of separated children, victims of trafficking and torture; the promotion of the right to family reunification and the introduction of subsidiary protection in a single protection procedure.

The single procedure will be carried out by one authority. It will allow those taking decisions to look at all the facts of a case on which one’s application for asylum will be assessed in a sequence starting with the 1951 Geneva Convention first, followed by other international treaty obligations and thirdly by considerations on humanitarian or other compassionate grounds. The implementation of a single consolidated procedure will end existing parallel procedures and is expected by all to enhance the quality of decisions and speed up the process of decision making.

UNHCR is supporting the efforts of the asylum authorities to prepare for these changes in the Irish asylum system.

Up to 4,000 asylum seekers go through the asylum system in Ireland each year. With a total of 333,000 asylum claims registered in 2008, Europe remained the primary destination for individuals seeking protection.