Part 3 of the Act amends the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. It inserts provisions on the procedure for revocations of naturalisation certificates. It requires the Minister to give the person notice of an intention to revoke and sets out details as to what that notice should include. Upon receipt of the notice, the person is given 28 days to make representations to the Minister. After the expiry of the period, the Minister shall decide whether to revoke the certificate having regard to any representations made. Where a decision is made to revoke, the individual can request an inquiry into the decision within 14 days and an independent Committee of Inquiry shall be appointed. Provisions are set out as to the structure of the Committee of Inquiry and what the Committee can have regard to in making its decision. It also sets out how the Committee shall inform the individual of its decision.
Part 4 of the Act amends the Immigration Act 2003 to increase the fines for carriers who contravene the transport requirements to enter the State, including, inter alia, transporting persons without valid Irish visas.
Part 5 of the Act amends the International Protection Act 2015. It revokes the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Third Country) Order 2020, and introduces new provisions concerning safe third country considerations related to inadmissibility, prohibition of refoulement requirements for cases considered inadmissible, as well as requirements to designate a country as a safe third country. In the context of deportation orders and return orders, it introduces provisions that allow the Minister to prescribe a class or classes of persons to whom the deportation order or return order provisions shall not apply and who may be given permission to remain in the State.
The Act also amends provisions on the membership of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, including setting out experience requirements for members.
