International Protection Act 2026

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Functions of Chief Inspector

263. (1) The functions of the Chief Inspector are as follows:

(a) to monitor asylum border procedures and compliance with European Union and international law, including the Charter, in designated asylum border facilities, in line with the independent monitoring mechanism provided for by the Screening Regulation and referred to in Article 43 of the Asylum Procedures Regulation;

(b) to ensure that complaints regarding, and allegations of breaches of fundamental rights in, designated asylum border facilities are dealt with effectively and without undue delay, and trigger, where necessary, formal investigations as provided for in section 273 , into such allegations and monitor the progress of such investigations; and

(c) to carry out regular inspections under section 271 of all designated asylum border facilities in the State.

(2) The Chief Inspector shall have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance of his or her functions under this section including, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following powers—

(a) to enter at any time any designated asylum border facility or any part of a designated asylum border facility, and to be accompanied on such visit by such staff of the Chief Inspector as he or she may consider necessary or expedient for the performance of his or her functions,

(b) to require any person employed in a designated asylum border facility, found in a designated asylum border facility or in the administration of a designated asylum border facility—

(i) to furnish the Chief Inspector with such information in the possession of such person as the Chief Inspector may reasonably require for the purposes of his or her functions,

(ii) to make available to the Chief Inspector any record or other document held in a designated asylum border facility in the person’s power or control that in the opinion of the Chief Inspector, is relevant to his or her functions, and

(iii) where appropriate, to attend before the Chief Inspector for the purposes of subparagraphs (i) or (ii),

(c) to inspect any item and remove said item from the designated asylum border facility if the Chief Inspector considers it necessary or expedient for the purposes of his or her functions under this Part,

(d) where the Chief Inspector considers it necessary to do so in order to preserve for inspection records, documents or any other matter, to secure, for later inspection, and for such period as may reasonably be necessary for the purposes of the exercise of the Chief Inspector’s powers under this Part, documents or records accessed or found during the inspection under this Part, and any data equipment, including any computer, in which those documents or records may be held,

(e) to examine and take copies in any form of, or extracts from, any record held in a designated asylum border facility that, in the opinion of the Chief Inspector, is relevant to the inspection or investigation and for those purposes take possession of any such record, remove it from the premises and retain it in his or her possession for a reasonable period,

(f) to take photographs, recordings and digital images of the designated asylum border facility, and

(g) to require any person found in a designated asylum border facility to answer such questions as the Chief Inspector may ask related to his or her functions under this Act.

(3) The Chief Inspector shall furnish to the Minister—

(a) such information regarding the performance of his or her functions as the Minister may from time to time request, and

(b) annual recommendations in relation to the improvement of fundamental rights compliance at designated asylum border facilities.

(4) The Chief Inspector shall inform the Minister of matters relevant to the accountability of the Government to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

(5) The Chief Inspector shall establish and maintain efficient and effective systems and procedures for the investigation of complaints in accordance with section 272 and 273 .

(6) Subject to this Part, the Chief Inspector may make rules governing the procedure to be followed for formal investigations under this section.