O’Callaghan: More than 80% of applications for international protection rejected

By Cate McCurry, PA

More than 80 per cent of applications for international protection were rejected in January, the Minister for Justice has said.

Jim O’Callaghan said that “too many people” are coming to Ireland seeking international protection who are not entitled to it.

Last year, 14,000 applications were processed and, at first instance, more than 65 per cent were rejected, according to the Fianna Fáil minister.

His department projects that some 15,000 people will arrive in Ireland this year seeking asylum.

“In terms of the issue, we need to focus on the fact, and I’ve to be straight with the Irish people, too many people are coming to Ireland seeking international protection who are not entitled to international protection,” he told RTÉ’s This Week programme.

“Last year, 14,000 applications were processed and, at first instance, over 65 per cent were rejected.

“This year, already, in January, over 80 per cent of applications were rejected at first instance.

“I have to be honest with people and say that we have a situation where there are too many people seeking international protection who are not entitled to it, and the people who are really suffering from that, of course, are the people who are legitimately entitled to claim it, who may not be provided with accommodation because of the numbers that are coming in.

“So, that’s an area I’m not going to shy away from stating. But, in order for it to be given effect, we have to have a procedure which recognises that if you come in and you’re granted international protection, you stay, you’re welcome.

“If you come in and you refuse international protection, you leave, you’re gone.”

Mr O’Callaghan said that while accommodation centres are needed for people seeking international protection, he and Colm Brophy, the Minister of State for Migration, will not be creating as “many accommodation spaces as possible”.

“We have to look at what is the driver of accommodation, and the driver of the accommodation needs is the ever increasing number of people coming in seeking international protection,” he continued.

“We’re going to focus on respect to that. I was out in Citywest the week before last, and that is an example of the type of centre that is working well and which we should try to have in place around the country.”

He said the Government plans to buy a series of centres around the country and provide them as accommodation.