72A.     (1) The Minister may by order designate a country as a safe third country.

(2) The Minister may make an order under subsection (1) only if he or she is satisfied that a person seeking to be recognised in the country concerned as a refugee will be treated in accordance with the following principles in that country—

(a) life and liberty are not threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion,

(b) the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with the Geneva Convention is respected,

(c) the prohibition of removal, in violation of the right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as required by international law, is respected, and

(d) the possibility exists to request refugee status and, if found to be a refugee, to receive protection in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

(3) The Minister shall base his or her assessment referred to in subsection (2) on a range of sources of information, including in particular information from—

(a) other Member States of the European Union,

(b) the European Asylum Support Office,

(c) the High Commissioner,

(d) the Council of Europe, and

(e) such other international organisations as the Minister considers appropriate.

(4) The Minister shall, in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) and on a regular basis, review the situation in a country designated under subsection (1).

(5) The Minister shall notify the European Commission of the making, amendment or revocation of an order under subsection (1).

(6) In this section—

"country" means a country other than an EU Member State;

"refugee status" means the recognition by the country concerned of a third country national or stateless person as a refugee.]