Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 2nd February, 2024.

I, HELEN MCENTEE, Minister for Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by subsection (1) of section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 (No. 66 of 2015) (as adapted by the Justice and Equality (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 ( S.I. No. 452 of 2020 )), and being satisfied, in accordance with section 72 and in relation to each country to be inserted into the Schedule to the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2018 ( S.I. No. 121 of 2018 ) specified in Regulation 2 of this Order, as to the matters specified in subsection (2) of the said section 72, hereby order as follows:

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) (Amendment) Order 2024.

(2) This Order comes into operation on 31 January 2024.

2. The Schedule to the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2018 ( S.I. No. 121 of 2018 )) is amended -

(a) by the insertion of “People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria” after “Montenegro”,

and

(b) by the insertion of “Republic of Botswana” after “Republic of Albania”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

30 January, 2024.

HELEN MCENTEE,

Minister for Justice.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order amends the Schedule to the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2018. The Order adds the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and the Republic of Botswana to the designated list of Safe Countries of Origin under section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 .