G.G. v The International Protection Appeals Tribunal & Ors (Approved)

                  It is necessary at this point to reiterate the general nature of the approach to be adopted by the court in applications of this type, and which has been applied in this case. In R.A. v. Refugee Appeals Tribunal [2017] IECA 297 , Hogan J. for the Court of Appeal emphasised the effect of the Qualification Directive on the role of the court in addressing a judicial review application concerning international protection:

                  Hence, the court, while dealing with a judicial review application, is approaching the matter on the basis that what is required is a " thorough review ".

                  For the reasons provided below, I have concluded that the application should be refused.

                  The evidence available to the Court was provided by way of the applicant's affidavit sworn on the 15 February 2024. The exhibits to this affidavit include the impugned decision, the supporting material considered by the Tribunal, as well as the decision of the IPO at first instance and the material available before that body.

                  In accordance with the statutory process underpinning claims for international protection, the applicant first completed an IPO questionnaire outlining the basis for his international protection claim. On the 28 July 2023 the applicant completed an interview pursuant to s. 35 of the 2015 Act. The material circumstances were accepted by both the IPO and the Tribunal.