Five further countries are to be added to Ireland’s life of safe countries on Wednesday, Egypt, Morocco, India, Brazil and Malawi. It means that applicants form these countries need more proof that their lives are in danger if they return but their applications will be decided on more quickly.
The introduction of accelerated processing has led to a significant decrease in applications from these countries, with numbers dropping by over 50pc.
Figures released by the Department of Justice show Nigeria has the highest number of international protection applications, with an average of 45 arrivals each week.
Georgia and Algeria are the second and third countries with the highest number of applications.
Ireland’s list of safe countries currently includes Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and South Africa. The designation places an onus on the applicant to demonstrate why, and by way of exception, they are in need of protection. International protection applications from the countries are accelerated and decisions issued within a maximum of 90 days.
Algeria and Botswana were added to the list at the beginning of the year.
Since their addition, international protection applications from Algeria and Botswana have decreased by 71pc.
