International Protection Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-25
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Aubrey McCarthy (IND), University of Dublin

I thank the Minister for being here. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of that amendment, which proposes that within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister will produce a comprehensive report on the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. It is a measured, reasonable and necessary addition to the legislation before us.
Looking at the amendment, the core of it seeks accountability from the Minister and recognises that the International Protection Bill will have significant consequences for some of the most vulnerable people who arrive on our shores. As the Minister knows, I am involved with the Lighthouse café on Pearse Street and we see a lot of international protection applicants, IPAs, arriving there - people who are fleeing conflict, persecution and unimaginable hardship. When we legislate in this House, we carry a moral responsibility for those people. A statutory requirement for a ministerial report ensures that we do not simply pass laws and then walk away from them. Instead, we commit to evaluating whether those laws are actually working in real time.
The amendment also rightly insists that the report analyses whether immigrants are receiving appropriate legal counselling. Access to legal advice is not a luxury in the international protection process; it should be a fundamental safeguard. Without it, applicants cannot meaningfully engage with the system. They cannot assert their rights or navigate complex legal procedures. Ensuring that legal supports are functioning effectively is essential to the integrity of the entire framework.
Equally important is the requirement to examine whether individuals in detention are being treated humanely and in accordance with both national law and the European Convention on Human Rights. Ireland has long prided itself with upholding human dignity and this amendment simply ensures that our practices match our principles. Transparency about detention conditions should be a democratic obligation.
We should be examining the impact of our healthcare on international protection applicants so that it protects them. I was recently contacted by Safety Net, which provides medical supports at our Lighthouse café. It raised a number of issues. It conducted a review and found that there were serious issues regarding the medical provision for international protection applicants.
By supporting this amendment, what we do is strengthen this Bill. We reinforce public confidence and affirm that Ireland's commitment to human rights is not theoretical but real. It ensures our international protection system remains fair and humane and is subject to ongoing scrutiny.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:46+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-25