International Protection Bill 2026: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-03
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Robbie Gallagher (FF), Labour Panel

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, for the work they are doing in this area. I understand they have both introduced new policies and legislative changes to strengthen the system and ensure it is rules-based, efficient and aligned with other EU member states. As others have stated, we need a system that is fair but firm, and that respects both the dignity of the people trying to access better lives for themselves in the EU and the integrity of our borders. I very much welcome this debate and support the Bill.
The right to claim asylum is an obligation under EU law. Last year, approximately 125,300 people arrived in this country. Of that figure, 13,000 were applicants for international protection, down 30% on the figure of 18,500 in 2024. Many of the people coming here are coming as essential workers, without whom our health services and many other sectors of our economy would simply collapse.
Issues arise when attempting to deal with a large number of applicants in a system that was never designed to handle such demand. Decisions have historically taken far too long in this situation, which benefits no one, as we all agree. This Bill is an attempt to reset the system. It will implement the provisions of the EU migration and asylum pact, the overall objective of which is to have a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.
This legislation will streamline decisions and the returns process, introducing a new border procedure, with a three-month time limit for decisions, appeals and return orders in appropriate cases. The Bill will also create a new second-instance body, a tribunal for asylum and returns appeals, and will allow for fewer oral appeal hearings to make the process more efficient. It will also establish a new chief inspector of asylum border procedures and an independent rights monitor.
The Bill is the most comprehensive reform of immigration law in the history of our State and will replace the International Protection Act 2015. This legislation will significantly reform Ireland's approach to migration and asylum in line with the EU migration and asylum pact to provide a consistent, fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure in ordinary times, as well as in times of migratory pressure and crisis situations. It will ensure a fair sharing of responsibility through stronger governance of asylum and migration policies and convergent asylum practices across the EU. Having a common system across the EU ensures all applicants for asylum are treated in the same way in every member state, and that there is no incentive to move from one state to another, commonly known as secondary movement, with which we are all familiar here.
Faster processing will mean applicants spend less time in IPAS accommodation and will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system for the State. Faster decision-making will also mean that successful applicants are granted international protection sooner, and those applicants who are refused can be returned to their countries of origin sooner.
For these reasons, both Houses of the Oireachtas voted to opt into the pact. The programme for Government commits to introducing a new International Protection Act to implement the EU migration and asylum pact.
Some people are advocating that we should go it alone and do it on our own. If we are looking for evidence to substantiate that, we need only look at our closest neighbour, the UK. It left the EU of its own accord. The number of people who have claimed asylum there has sharply risen, with over 110,000 people applying in the year ending June 2025. Small boat arrivals have driven much of the increase and account for almost 40% of claimants. The main purpose of the UK leaving the EU initially was to take control of its own migration policy. Unfortunately, it has not worked out well, and we can see the proof before our very eyes. For those advocating to go it alone, the experience of the UK would not inspire much confidence.
When talking about the UK, the Minister of State will know that the majority of our applicants are coming through the UK. I welcome the fact that we now have a good, strong relationship with our nearest neighbour on this issue. I understand that many people are also arriving here and travelling to the UK, so it is a two-way system. I welcome the fact that there is good co-operation between Ireland and the UK, and that the relationship has developed and deepened in recent times under the leadership of the Labour Party in the UK.
To sum up, I sincerely hope and firmly believe that this legislation will give us the necessary tools to address this issue. It is an EU issue and, therefore, it is an EU response that is required to address it properly. I have every confidence that the legislation we are discussing today will be successful in that regard.

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Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-03/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-03