Selection Mission

Selection missions to the field are an opportunity for States to consider a large number of Resettlement Cases at the same time through direct interviews with refugees, and to gain familiarity with the asylum context.

As part of the process for Resettlement, selection missions take place in a number of countries agreed following discussion between UNHCR and officials from Irish Government. To date these have included Greece, Lebanon and Jordan.

An Irish delegation led by the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, to include An Garda Síochána (The Irish Police Force) and experts from relevant stakeholders, travel to the country of selection to interview refugees for potential resettlement. In advance of the mission, Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) will confirm with UNHCR, the number of families to be interviewed. Logistics for interviews are coordinated with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Refugee Referral Forms (RRF) are forwarded to IRPP team by UNHCR for review by IRPP officials in advance of the selection mission.

Preliminary recommendations are made at the time of the interview. Special needs and medical cases are referred to various Government Departments/ agencies for consideration. All cases are referred for security clearance by An Garda Síochána. The final decisions are taken following a full case review upon return to Ireland. Decisions on cases are available within three to four months. Beneficiaries who do not satisfy Ireland’s resettlement criteria will not be accepted for resettlement.