Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
343. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the metrics she used to determine that 80% of persons seeking international protection had arrived in this jurisdiction via Northern Ireland; the date on which she and/or her officials began recording data in respect of migration figures via Northern Ireland to the State; and if she will provide the sample size of data used to determine the 80% figure. [20185/24]
View answer361. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice to provide the data underpinning her recent claim that 80% of all asylum seekers in Ireland are entering the State via the North; to detail the methodology for the collection of this data; and to detail the timeframe over which this data was collected. [20281/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 361 together.
The patterns in international protection applications vary over time and the Government’s response adapts accordingly. It has long been the case that a significant number of people apply for international protection for the first time in the International Protection Office (IPO). This has increased in 2024. To COB on 29th April 2024, there have been 7,054 applications for International Protection at the IPO. Of these 6,468 (91.7%) were made at the IPO for the first time and not at a port of entry.
There are a number of circumstances in which someone might apply in the IPO without first applying at a port of entry. They may enter at an airport with valid documentation for example but choose not to apply at that time. Or they may apply having been in the State for a period previously, for example on foot of a different permission to remain. A certain number of persons may also enter the state at a port of airport but not be detected through the standard immigration controls.
All of these various circumstances undoubtedly arise, however, my Department’s assessment, based on the experience of staff and others working in the field, and based on the material gathered at interviews, is that most of those currently applying for the first time in the IPO have entered over the land border. Applicants are asked to outline their travel route at interview but, owing to the varied and unverifiable nature of those accounts, that information is not collated in a structured way. It is also not feasible to physically verify a person's travel over the land border.
While the nature of this data is not capable of full verification, an overall operational assessment, including as to evolving trends in applicant, can however be made and this is the basis of the advice to me on this matter. The circumstances and trends in application will continue to be kept under review but the Deputy will appreciate that it as Minister I need to have regard to the assessment as is currently available to me.
