Some countries are designated as a safe country of origin by Ireland. This means that it can be shown that there is generally and consistently no persecution, no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.
If someone comes from a safe third country, an individual assessment of their application must still be made and 8 the International Protection Office will still consider a person’s application for refugee status.
A person from a safe third country can still be recognised as a refugee. As an example, between January and June 2022, 256 decisions were made on Georgian applications. 20% received refugee status , i.e. 2 in 10.9 In 2021 18% of Georgian appeals were successful.10
Ireland is not alone in receiving asylum applications from Georgia. Georgians have been one of the 10 main applicant groups in the EU almost every month since May 2021.
In November 2022 the Irish government introduced a new procedure to consider applications from safe countries of origin.
The EU Asylum Agency have stated that the invasion of Ukraine has been a key factor influencing the increase in Georgian nationals applying for international protection in the EU12 as the worsening economic and socio-political conditions leave many desperate.