International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-18
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Alan Kelly (LAB), Tipperary North

This needs to be defined. We cannot leave this loose. We already had a discussion on the previous amendment in relation to how we are moving into new territory as regards detaining children. It is never good when children are being detained. It is not acceptable. However, we also have to have a definition as regards what we are doing to include the best interests of the child as a primary consideration in the application of the Act's provision by inserting a definition into the interpretation section so that it will run throughout the Bill.
I will not repeat it but my colleague referred to Article 3 of the UNCHR, the EU Charter and everything else. The reality is that this is quite a defining component. Ultimately, the best interests of the child should be the defining statement of how we pursue this legislation from here on in. We cannot allow it to be loosely understood. We cannot allow it to be undefined. This is a critical decision. If the Minister is not going to accept our amendment here and now, he is going to have to have to bring forward something in relation to this issue. There will be an outcry if he does not. It does need definition. We have put this forward because we believe this is the best way in which we can deal with it. These are not circumstances under which we want to be doing this but we have to do it. I ask that the Minister really consider this amendment. It is probably one of the most important amendments to this whole Bill that is being brought forward.

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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