An Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) decision published on 5 November 2025 orders the partial release of Department of Foreign Affairs records detailing its confidential advice to the Department of Justice on whether Algeria should be classed as a ‘safe country of origin’ for asylum processing.
The requester sought the internal feedback form that influenced a 2024 Justice review of safe-country designations used to fast-track asylum claims. The Department had withheld large sections under FOI Act section 33, citing potential harm to Ireland–Algeria relations. The OIC found the public-interest test favoured disclosure of most, though not all, redacted analysis, noting that some of the Department’s concerns overlapped with information already in the public domain via travel advisories.
![FOI ruling sheds light on Ireland’s deliberations over declaring Algeria a ‘safe country of origin’]()
The ruling is significant for NGOs and immigration lawyers who argue that safe-country lists, introduced to accelerate decision times, risk refoulement if underlying assessments are opaque. Greater transparency could force the Department of Justice to justify accelerated procedures and allow applicants from designated states to prepare more robust rebuttals.
Corporates relocating staff from North Africa should watch whether Algeria is ultimately declared ‘safe’, as that status could affect dependent-family reunification timelines and appeal rights.
The requester sought the internal feedback form that influenced a 2024 Justice review of safe-country designations used to fast-track asylum claims. The Department had withheld large sections under FOI Act section 33, citing potential harm to Ireland–Algeria relations. The OIC found the public-interest test favoured disclosure of most, though not all, redacted analysis, noting that some of the Department’s concerns overlapped with information already in the public domain via travel advisories.
The ruling is significant for NGOs and immigration lawyers who argue that safe-country lists, introduced to accelerate decision times, risk refoulement if underlying assessments are opaque. Greater transparency could force the Department of Justice to justify accelerated procedures and allow applicants from designated states to prepare more robust rebuttals.
Corporates relocating staff from North Africa should watch whether Algeria is ultimately declared ‘safe’, as that status could affect dependent-family reunification timelines and appeal rights.
