New figures issued by the Department of Justice show 1,037 international protection applicants were subject to Dublin III transfer decisions between 2021 and 2025. The Dublin III regulation is designed to dissuade asylum seekers making applications in more than one country. However, less than 2 per cent of those subject to a Dublin III transfer in Ireland were actually sent back to the EU state they first entered. Figures supplied by the department showed that 361 people who applied for asylum in Ireland in 2025 had already been granted international protection in another EU state. In all, 1,165 people who have applied for asylum in Ireland over the past five years have already had that status granted in another EU State.

Source: The Irish Times February 16, 2026 15:03 UTC