International Protection Bill 2026: From the Seanad Dail Éireann — 2026-04-15 ============================================================ Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South I propose that amendments Nos. 1, 6 to 8, inclusive, 18 to 20, inclusive, 22, 23, 117, 141 to 145, inclusive, 147 and 148 be taken together. Those amendments relate to the introduction of legal counselling for applicants for international protection as is required by the Asylum Procedures Regulation and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation. A key factor in creating a more effective international protection system is ensuring that from the earliest stages of the process applicants are sufficiently informed about asylum procedures and their rights and obligations. The Bill will achieve this through the delivery of legal counselling. Legal counselling is the provision of information, guidance or assistance to applicants on matters related to the application procedure. This will help applicants to be informed about legal issues that may arise in the course of the procedure and ensure they know what to expect during the process. Legal counselling is not a replacement for legal advice or legal representation, which applicants may still choose to avail of just as they can under the existing system. I have brought forward amendments to provide for legal counselling on Committee Stage in the Seanad following extensive consultation with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Office of the Attorney General and the Legal Aid Board. The definition of legal counselling will ensure that legal counselling will be provided in line with the regulations of the European Union while not being limited to only being provided by a solicitor or barrister. The Legal Aid Board shall appoint persons that it considers to be sufficiently knowledgeable and experienced in asylum procedures to deliver legal counselling. The definition for legal counselling I have provided will enhance the effectiveness of the system of legal assistance we currently have in place without disturbing it, and it ensures that procedures under the Asylum Procedures Regulation and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation are fully accounted for. I also state that the pact already provides that legal counselling is to be provided free of charge. Amendment No. 23 will introduce a new section establishing an applicant’s right to consult legal representatives. Applicants may obtain legal advice at any stage during the procedure in respect of their application to determine the member state responsible under the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation or in respect of an appeal. Legal advice is given the same meaning as it has under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and may be provided by a practising solicitor or barrister. --- 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/dail/2026-04-15/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-04-15