International Protection Act 2026

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Programme Refugees

236. (1) For the purposes of this Part, a “programme refugee” means a person, whether or not such person is a refugee within the meaning of the definition of “refugee” in section 2 —

(a) to whom permission to enter and remain in the State under the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation in accordance with subsection (3) has been given by the Minister and whose name is entered by the Minister in the register referred to in subsection (6),

(b) to whom permission to enter and remain in the State under the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation in accordance with subsection (4) has been given by the Minister and whose name is entered by the Minister in the register referred to in subsection (6),

(c) to whom permission to enter and remain in the State for resettlement has been given by the Government or the Minister in accordance with other governmental programmes or humanitarian schemes, and whose name is entered in the register referred to in subsection (6), other than—

(i) those referred to in paragraph (e), or

(ii) those granted temporary protection,

(d) who, on the date on which this section comes into operation, is a programme refugee within the meaning of section 59 of the Act of 2015, or

(e) to whom permission to enter and remain in the State on an ad hoc temporary basis as a refugee has been given by the Government or the Minister.

(2) During such period as he or she is entitled to remain in the State pursuant to a permission given by the Government or the Minister—

(a) under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1), Part 9 shall apply to a programme refugee, or

(b) under paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of subsection (1), sections 202(1), 203 and 207 shall apply to a programme refugee.

(3) For the reception and resettlement in the State of programme refugees admitted under the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation in accordance with subsection (1)(a), the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade—

(a) shall request the High Commissioner to refer to him or her, in accordance with Article 9 of the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation, such persons as are eligible for admission in accordance with paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) of Article 5 of that Regulation, and

(b) shall follow the admission procedure as set out in Article 9 of the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation.

(4) For the reception and humanitarian admission into the State of programme refugees admitted under the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation in accordance with subsection (1)(b), the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade—

(a) may request the High Commissioner, the Asylum Agency or another relevant international body to refer to him or her, in accordance with Article 9 of the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation, such persons as are eligible in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of Article 5 of that Regulation, and

(b) shall follow the admission procedure as set out in Article 9 of the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation.

(5) The Minister may, after consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, enter into agreements with the High Commissioner for the reception and resettlement in the State of programme refugees.

(6) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Act of 2015 by section 5 , the register established under section 59 of that Act and maintained by the Minister shall continue in being and be maintained by the Minister for the purposes of this Part.

(7) For the reception and resettlement in the State and the humanitarian admission into the State of programme refugees admitted under the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), the eligibility requirements set out in Article 5, the grounds for refusing admission set out in Article 6 and the consent requirements set out in Article 7 of that Regulation shall apply.

(8) The Minister shall carry out the functions of a Member State in accordance with the admission procedure as set out in Article 9 of the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation.

(9) In this section, “register” means the register referred to in subsection (6) and maintained by the Minister, for the registering of programme refugees.

(10) A word or expression that is used in this section and is also used in the Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation shall have the same meaning as it has in that Regulation unless the context otherwise requires.