Intent: Information exchange. Information on the transition to implementing the International Protection Bill 2026Clarity around the process of having to complete a questionairre at the International Protection Office and improvements to this process. Information and update on the process of age assessment and whether the IPO is undertaking this.
Details: Meeting with the Chief International Protection Officer, Richard Dixon
Intent: The intended result was a contribution to efforts to promote integration and encounter and to build an open, inclusive and dynamic Irish society in which all who reside in the country are valued and treated equally, irrespective of their colour, creed or culture.
Details: In January 2026, JRS Ireland issued a copy of the 2026 JRS Ireland Intercultural and Interfaith Calendar to a number of relevant designated public officials and raised serious concerns about increasing polarisation around migration and asylum issues in Ireland.
Intent: JRS Ireland was seeking clarity regarding any new processes that may be applied to age-disputed-minors, as it has a long standing engagement with State agencies on ensuring appropriate procedural safeguards are in place in the age assessment of age-disputed-minors.
Details: In December 2025, JRS Ireland contacted the International Protection Office to seek clarification regarding age assessments procedures for age-disputed-minors.
Intent: Ending of homelessness of international protection applicants. In particular the policy that people must sleep rough to demonstrate eligbility and need for accommodation.
Details: Letter to Minister for Justice about unaccommodated international protection applicants.
Intent: Raise concerns relating to payment for training, non-payment for work completed, delays in being paid for work carried out and a contractual restraint of trade clause imposed on our members.
Intent: Homeless international protection applicants are given the option of pausing their substantive interview so that they are not interviewed while homeless. . We believe it essential that applicants be given the option of pausing their application and postponing the application while homeless and formally request that this option be offered to all people without accommodation. A person may well wish to continue the application and proceed with interview, but the option to pause is a safeguard.
Details: Email to the Chief International Protection Officer requesting that homeless international protection applicants are given the option of pausing their application prior to interview to avoid being interviewed while homeless.
