International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-18
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Louis O'Hara (SF), Galway East

Clearly, this legislation is being rushed. It is really important legislation that deserves to be debated fully and fleshed out. What is happening here is bad practice. There is a limited time for proper scrutiny and late amendments. It is all very last-minute. It is impossible for TDs and their offices to give this the full level of scrutiny it deserves. It is irresponsible to do business in this manner. Amendment No. 1, which was proposed by Deputy Carthy, very sensibly sought to set out a report in order to ensure we are actually prepared for this legislation and mistakes are not made in this legislation. The reason that Committee Stage scrutiny is not taking place in the justice committee, as requested by the members of that committee, is obviously down to the deadline that has been imposed on the EU asylum and migration pact, to which the Government has signed up. The justice committee produced a report that recommended the Government should reconsider opting out of the majority of the pact. Certainly, that is what should have been done because it undermines Irish sovereignty and transfers powers to the European Union. It should be up to the Irish people and our Government to make decisions on our own migration policy.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-18