The State is more likely than ever to reject International Protection applications, with 81% refused at first instance this year, compared to 52% rejected in 2017.
CEO of non-profit organisation Doras John Lannon told Newstalk Breakfast that “it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that everyone has the right to seek international protection”.
“The Government has made a list of 15 countries that it deems to be generally safe now, and applications for those countries are accelerated,” he said.
“That could be contributing to the high number of negative decision because these accelerated procedures make it more difficult for applicants to present their cases.
“We’re aware of applicants that didn’t have the opportunity to seek legal advice, for example, prior to undergoing their interview, due to the short turnaround time, due to applicants not being advised of their right to seek free independent legal advice.
“[This is also] partly due to the fact that many of the people who are subject to accelerated procedures are on the streets, struggling to survive in tents.”

Leader of Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín said the increased refusal rate points to a system “that wasn’t being implemented properly for the last four or five years”.
“There has been a message sent out internationally that Ireland isn’t a strict location, that if you come to Ireland a decision will probably be made in your favour or the decision will take years to undertake,” he said.
“Even if the decision is taken and you get a deportation order, you’re very unlikely to be forced to leave the country – I think that has sent a message internationally.”
Deputy Toibín said that “every person who comes to Ireland to use the asylum seeker that’s not an asylum seeker” takes resources away from those that truly need them.
'Relatively low figure'
Mr Lannon reiterated that “everyone who seeks international protection is a legitimate asylum seeker”.
“If we look at trends across Europe, we can see that overall, the percentage of the numbers of asylum seekers we get is in line with the rest of Europe,” he said.
“At the moment, we’re looking at 2023 figures, the number of applications that we get is running at about 2.5 per 1,000 people of the population.
“That’s still a relatively low figure; we do have issues when it comes to the processing of the applications, particularly to the provision of accommodation, but the accommodation shortage is not a consequence of the number of International Protection applicants.”
Deputy Tóibín said that while it is legally true that everyone has the right to seek asylum, those coming to the country for economic reasons should apply for working visas.
Main image: The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) facility at Dublin Airport, 17-10-2007. Image: Mark Stedman/RollingNews