As the Deputy has been previously advised, Ireland cannot opt-in to the Schengen border measures in the Pact: the Screening Regulation and the Return Border Procedure Regulation. The International Protection Act 2026 provides for appropriate alignment with those regulations. The intention to align appropriately with these measures was clearly stated in the National Implementation Plan that was published in early 2025.
The provisions of the International Protection Act 2026 which provide for alignment with the Screening Regulation can be found in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Act. These provisions provide for the arrangements for the screening of applicants, which is being carried out at the Citywest Reception Centre.
Provision has been made for the Return Border Procedure in Chapter 2 of Part 11 of the Act. It is important to note that Ireland has opted into the Asylum Procedures Regulation and so is obliged to implement the asylum border procedure. The return border Procedure is a key companion to the asylum border procedure. It provides for the return of applicants within twelve weeks of them having received a final negative decision on their application for international protection. While an applicant remains in the return border procedure, they remain in conditions similar to the asylum border procedure; in that they will be required to reside at a designated centre and are not authorised to enter the State.
There are significant benefits to implementing both screening and the return border procedure. Applicants placed in the asylum border procedure will have their applications dealt with within twelve weeks and, under the return border procedure, should be returned within a further twelve weeks. Faster processing under these procedures will mean that applicants spend less time in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation, and this will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system to the State.
