International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-18
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

I thank colleagues for their contributions. I assure all of them that we will be debating the definition of "legal counselling" that I bring forward. I intend to bring it forward in the Seanad. I would have preferred to bring it here on Report Stage. As I stated at the outset, there were time pressures in respect of this. I am being honest about that. I am just reflecting on the matter.
The definition of "legal counselling" will reflect the definition in the asylum procedures regulation, APR. It will also take into account requirements set out in the asylum and migration management regulation, AMMR, and the asylum border procedure. My intention is that legal counselling will be provided through the Legal Aid Board. The likelihood is that it will be provided through paralegals hired by the Legal Aid Board. That is my intention at present. It will be provided predominantly on an individual basis. It is not for me to dictate to the Legal Aid Board how it should manage its provision of legal counselling. It will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board. I am not going to specify in legislation how they should do it. It is not my intention or the intention of the legislation, and I do not envisage it happening, that AI or bots will be used, to answer Deputy Gannon's question.
People may criticise me for this, but we also have to recognise that a limited amount of money is available to be given to the Legal Aid Board each year. In fairness, last year in the budget, I managed to get a sum in the region of €73 million for the Legal Aid Board. That included an increase of €8 million to take into account the extra obligations that are going to be placed on the Legal Aid Board as a result of the requirements under the new International Protection Bill. Further money has been required, therefore, but I also need to ensure that the pot of money that is available is not all used up for international protection. People may criticise me for saying that but I have to ensure it is not all used up for that. There are also significant pressures on the Legal Aid Board with the legitimate applications coming for legal advice and assistance from those seeking international protection. In 2024, some 28,000 applications were made to the Legal Aid Board. Of them, 11,600 or so were in respect of international protection. I have to be realistic.

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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