International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-25
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Matt Carthy (SF), Cavan-Monaghan

This is a product of the process we were left with because of the approach the Minister has taken to this Bill. We are now 20 minutes away from cut-off. I know the Minister had an issue with the number of TDs who spoke to a particular amendment but, realistically, we have not had a proper engagement on any amendment up until this point or on any section. As the Minister knew, when he insisted he was going to bring it forward on the floor of the Dáil, it is not conducive to having a proper conversation and deliberation.
In respect of this amendment, I support it. The Minister can argue that the movers of the amendment should have brought forward a particular definition and clarifications on how the presumption would be made and what the basis of that would be in law. I made the point that we were nearly being criticised earlier for having too many TDs, but one of the benefits of having a larger number of TDs is the fact that, as tough as it is, I and one member of staff can spend our time going through a piece of justice legislation and, even then, cannot go through all the material that comes from the Minister's Department, to be quite honest about it. However, when you are dealing with other, smaller parties that do not have the same wherewithal, we see individual TDs dealing with multiple portfolios. Our party was in that position before and it becomes much more difficult.
The question for me, when we are dealing with an Opposition amendment, is the principle of the amendment. Of course, the Minister could decide he is going to accept the principle in respect of people who are identified as victims of trafficking. Then he could go to his officials and say let us figure out how we get this done, in the same way he has done for all the measures he wanted to cater for. In that regard, it is the principle of the amendment I am supporting and I am doing so as somebody who does not necessarily have an issue with the concept of screening centres or the obligation on people who are applicants for international protection of presenting to a screening centre. I have an issue with regard to the legislation, where it simply says that the Minister may designate a premises once he is satisfied the premises is suitable. That is even less clear than any amendment the Opposition has put forward in respect of what exactly will constitute an appropriate location, what the basis will be, or whether there will be provisions in regard to the distance somebody will be expected to travel. We talked about applicants being all over the country, whether they will all be expected to go to Citywest and if it is not happening. The Minister is shaking is head but we do not know because the legislation certainly does not say.
In respect of amendment No. 22, I want to put on the record that we support it on the basis that we support the principle of it. If the Minister really wanted to have a teased-out discussion on how all of this would work on a practical basis, the point has been made but I will make it again: we should be having this conversation in the committee room.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:41+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-25