State argues Rwanda policy does not legally exist and does not apply to cases before High Court

The designation, made by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee in December 2020 in response to Brexit, enables a finding that an international protection application is inadmissible if the applicant has arrived from the UK and certain criteria are met. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Two lead challenges to the Minister for Justice’s designation of the UK as a “safe third country” have failed to specify the point at which they say the designation should have been revoked, lawyers for the State have told the High Court.

The designation, made by Helen McEntee in December 2020 in response to Brexit, enables a finding that an international protection application is inadmissible if the applicant has arrived from the UK and certain criteria are met. The person can be returned to the UK, as a safe non-EU country, for their asylum application or situation to be determined there.