Migrations in Our Common Home - Inside the System: A Review of Ireland’s International Protection Application Process

Ireland’s international protection system is at a critical juncture. Every year, thousands of people arrive seeking safety, protection, and a chance to rebuild their lives. From the moment they declare their intent to seek asylum, they find themselves navigating a process that is both complex and critical. The General Scheme of the International Protection Bill 2025 and the National Implementation Plan, shaped by the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, promise a faster, more efficient system. However, unless implemented with strong safeguards, these reforms risk hardening the very barriers they aim to dismantle.

This paper maps the full process from arrival to post-decision and identifies systemic weaknesses that have the potential to undermine fairness, safeguards, and rights compliance.