S.I. No. 284/2026 - International Protection Act 2026 (Section 170) (Shorter Time Limits for Examination Procedure) Regulations 2026

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 23rd June, 2026.

I, JIM O’CALLAGHAN, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 170 of the International Protection Act 2026 (No. 9 of 2026), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the International Protection Act 2026 (Section 170) (Shorter Time Limits for Examination Procedure) Regulations 2026.

2. For the purposes of section 170 of the International Protection Act 2026 (No. 9 of 2026), each of the following modifications of the time limits set out in sections 158, 168 and 169 for the conclusion of the examination procedure in cases where a court or tribunal annuls the decision of the Determining Authority and refers the case back, is hereby prescribed:

(a) the reference in section 158(1) of that Act to two months from the date on which the application is lodged shall be construed as a reference to one month from the date on which the case is referred back to the Determining Authority;

(b) the reference in section 158(2) of that Act to ten working days shall be construed as a reference to nine working days;

(c) the reference in section 158(4) of that Act to two months shall be construed as a reference to one month;

(d) the reference in section 168(1) of that Act to six months from the date on which the application is lodged shall be construed as a reference to 24 weeks from the date on which the case is referred back to the Determining Authority;

(e) the reference in section 168(2) of that Act to six months shall be construed as a reference to 24 weeks in each place where it occurs;

(f) the reference in section 168(3) of that Act to the date on which the application is lodged in accordance with section 40 shall be construed as a reference to the date on which the case is referred back to the Determining Authority;

(g) the reference in section 169 of that Act to 21 months from the lodging of an application shall be construed as a reference to 18 months from the date on which the case is referred back to the Determining Authority.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

18 June, 2026.

JIM O’CALLAGHAN,

Minister for Justice.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

These Regulations prescribe, for the purposes of section 170 of the International Protection Act 2026, time limits shorter than the time limits set out in sections 158, 168 and 169 for the conclusion of the examination procedure in cases where a court or tribunal annuls the decision of the Determining Authority and refers the case back.