Ireland third in the EU for rate of asylum seeker rejections

Protection in Ireland granted in just 12 per cent of cases

Migrants protest at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek Macedonia border during last week Pic: Getty

Ireland had the third highest rejection rate of asylum seekers in the EU between 2008 and 2015, EU figures show.

Asylum seekers were granted protection in Ireland in just 12 per cent of cases, compared with an EU average of 37 per cent over the eight years. Only Greece and Liechtenstein approved fewer applications.

Italy and Sweden accepted almost half of all applicants, according to figures published by Eurostat every year.

The figures ...