An International Protection Officer may recommend that the Minister for Justice deem an application for international protection “inadmissible” pursuant to section 21 of the International Protection Act 2015.

Under the Act, an application for international protection is inadmissible where one or more than one of the following circumstances applies in relation to a person seeking to apply for international protection in Ireland:

A ‘first country of asylum for the person’ means that they have been recognised in that country as a refugee and can still avail themselves of that protection, or they otherwise enjoy sufficient protection in that country, including benefiting from the principle of non-refoulement, and they will be re-admitted to that country.

An applicant can appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal against the recommendation of an International Protection Officer that their application for international protection be deemed inadmissible.

The time limit within which to appeal is short. An appeal must be lodged with the Tribunal within 10 working days from the notification of the negative recommendation. (Regulation 3(a) of the International Protection Act 2015 (Procedures and Periods for Appeals) Regulations 2017).

These appeals are determined without an oral hearing. Legal aid is available for these appeals; more information about this is available on our How To Appeal page.