Source: European Asylum Support Office
The EUAA has signed its first Operational Plan with Ireland. The Agency will focus on assisting the International Protection Appeals Tribunal with the provision of quasi-judicial supports in order to facilitate the decision making on a growing number of pending appeals.
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and the Irish authorities have agreed to a targeted Operational Plan that aims to assist the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT), with processing the appeals lodged against first instance decisions. The support aims at ensuring that the Irish authorities can make the best use of their resources to tackle the existing appeal caseload, while setting up new structures and processes required under the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
“Our support to the Irish appeals system, while national authorities focus on implementing the reforms the Pact requires, reflects important partnership between the EUAA and its Member States,” said Nina GREGORI, the EUAA’s Executive Director.
Welcoming the initiative, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’CALLAGHAN TD said “I have been increasing resources in the end-to-end international process over the course of this year. This agreement with the EUAA for further supports is a welcomed addition to the challenges faced with an increasing appeal caseload. These extra supports will help to speed up decision timeframes in the Tribunal and to reduce the number of cases on hand.”
“The experts deployed by the EUAA to support the Tribunal in the provision of an effective remedy for applicants for international protection are most welcome and we look forward to gaining further efficiencies through the supports provided” added Ms. Hilkka BECKER, Chairperson of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.
The EUAA’s support comes as Ireland reports having received increasing numbers of applications for international protection over the last several years, from 2 649 in 2021 to 18 561 in 2024. This increase has significantly impacted the country’s appeal system, with around 15 929 cases pending appeal at the end of September 2025. Separately, the EUAA’s latest data show that Ireland received over 6 000 asylum applications in the first half of 2025.
The signature of the Operational Plan comes after the Irish authorities formally requested support in June 2025. The plan was signed by the EUAA’s Executive Director, Ms. Nina GREGORI, the Deputy Secretary for the Irish Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Mr. Doncha O’SULLIVAN, as well as Ms. Hilkka BECKER, Chairperson of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). The plan remains valid until 31 December 2026.
The Agency will deploy up to 30 personnel to Ireland and will focus on preparing appeal files, by carrying out research for Tribunal members on Country-of-Origin Information and evolving international protection jurisprudence. The Agency will also aim at providing interpretation for difficult-to-source languages.
Background
The EUAA Regulation provides that Member States may request operational support from the Agency where any part of their asylum and reception systems come under pressure. Ireland can benefit from Agency’s operational support, following its decision to be bound by the EUAA Regulation in 2023. Ireland has also opted into the relevant instruments of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and is benefiting from significant financial support under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) to assist in its implementation.