International Protection Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-19
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

It is possible that services can be contracted out. It is not envisaged that we are going to start privatising the work that is being done at present by immigration officers. They do a difficult job very sensitively. Obviously, somebody has to make an assessment in respect of an unaccompanied minor. It cannot be left the minor to determine whether it is in his or her best interests or not. It has to be somebody in a position of authority. As the Senator can see from this legislation, the State has put the interests of the unaccompanied minor first and foremost in this legislation. It is only fair that in circumstances where the State representative believes there is a threat to the minor or it would be in the best interests of the minor to be detained for a very short period of time, that should be permitted.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-19