The Department of Justice announced that it has paused the processing of international protection applications made by Syrian nationals.

Responding to the decision, Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council said:

“Since the weekend we have been contacted by more than 140 Syrian people seeking information about the current situation.”

“We do not know what legal device the IPO are using to pause applications. We have previously requested to the IPO that people who are street homeless be given the opportunity to pause their protection while homeless, but we were told by the IPO that the International Protection Act 2015 does not allow for this. If such a device does exist, and applications are being paused, we recommend the IPO communicate with the approximately 450 Syrian people in our protection process and give a timeframe and a process. A pause should not affect people’s permission to work applications. It is also worth noting that, up until now, Syria is one of the seven countries which is prioritised by the IPO on the grounds that an application is likely to be well founded.”

“If and when decision making resumes, the IPO and IPAT should not automatically consider Syria a safe place, just because of the downfall of the Assad regime, given the extremely fluid security situation. Subsidiary protection can be used in addition to refugee status as it allows for a situation of internal armed conflict. EU and international law also must have strict rules on cessation of international protection status which must be respected. For example, the changes in the country of origin must be significant and non-temporary.” 

“We would also encourage Ireland to contribute positively and progressively to the EU policy debate on this issue, including reconstruction in Syria. Less than two days after Assad’s downfall, several EU member states are rushing to deport and return Syrian people and are using disturbing rhetoric, which is completely inappropriate.”