Syrians left in limbo as minister pauses asylum applications in wake of Assad's removal 

The Irish Syrian Solidarity Movement and Syrians celebrate outside the GPO after dictator Bashar al-Assad was forced to flee Syria. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Syrians seeking refuge in Ireland have been left in limbo after Justice Minister Helen McEntee moved to pause asylum applications in the wake of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The Irish Refugee Council has raised concerns about the decision to temporarily pause decisions on asylum applications from Syrians in recent days, and has sought clarity around the legal basis for doing so.