Egypt to be added to Ireland’s list of safe countries
Egypt is set to join Ireland’s list of safe countries. Minister for Justice of Ireland, Helen McEntee, will today announce the inclusion of Egypt, along with Brazil, India, Malawi, and Morocco, into Ireland’s safe countries list.
According to a statement, the addition is a reflection of Ireland’s confidence in the security and human rights conditions in these nations.
The designation of Egypt as a safe country implies recognition that Egypt is generally free from persecution, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, or indiscriminate violence.
The safe country status also means that asylum seekers from Egypt will have their International Protection applications processed within a short three-month period. This accelerated process will enhance the efficiency of Ireland’s asylum system while addressing public concerns about immigration and accommodation for asylum seekers.
Ireland currently has ten countries on its safe countries list, including Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and South Africa.
The statement noted that the addition of Egypt and the other four countries is part of a broader strategy to streamline the asylum process and manage immigration more effectively. It added that this initiative is part of Ireland’s participation in an EU-wide pact on immigration, which has been in development for eight years.
It said new measures to be implemented under this pact will include enhanced border security checks, biometric data collection, and health screenings for migrants. Asylum seekers will be accommodated in designated centers near airports and ports, ensuring that their applications are processed within 12 weeks.
The inclusion of Egypt, Ireland highlighted, is expected to result in a decrease in the number of asylum applications from Egyptians, as seen with other countries previously designated as safe.
