Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 October 2025
340. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has raised concerns regarding the circulation of asylum coaching materials; and the actions taken to address these concerns. [52787/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra341. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures in place in State-contracted accommodation centres to ensure that residents are not assisted by third parties in preparing fraudulent or coached asylum applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52788/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the safeguards currently in place within the International Protection Office to detect coached or rehearsed asylum claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52782/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra364. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of international protection applications since 2020 that have been refused, withdrawn, or deemed in admissible following concerns about fabricated, coached, or inconsistent testimony; if he will provide this data on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52783/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra365. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the nature of the training provided to International Protection Office caseworkers in order to identify coached or scripted interview responses; and if he is satisfied that these procedures are adequate. [52784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has identified the circulation of coaching documents, interview scripts, or similar materials for asylum applicants; the steps taken when such documents are discovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52785/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra367. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the penalties or consequences for applicants who knowingly submit false or coached claims; and whether he intends to strengthen such measures to safeguard the integrity of the asylum system. [52786/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 340, 341 and 363 to 367, inclusive, together.
I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland's International Protection system is robust and rules based.
The International Protection process is in place to determine if an applicant has a well-founded fear of persecution, or is at risk of serious harm in their country of origin.
In regard to training, the complex nature of the International Protection Act 2015 requires in-depth training for staff. The IPO works closely with the UNHCR and the European Union Asylum Agency in developing and delivering this training to staff and panel members.
Insofar as information which might be relied upon by applicants is concerned, there is a considerable amount of country of origin information in the public domain in various formats. A key focus in the training, supervision and quality assurance of our process is in assessing the credibility of an individual application, including where it seeks to rely on circumstances in a country of origin which might give rise in general terms to a well founded fear of persecution.
The information requested by the Deputy on the reasons for refusal of international protection is not recorded in a manner that allows the information to be extracted from the relevant databases.
