I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the International Protection Bill 2026 to the House. Migration has been a distinctive feature of Ireland’s history. Few countries in Europe have been as affected by emigration over the past two centuries as Ireland, with millions having left in search of safe haven, economic prosperity and opportunities not afforded to them at home. In recent years, we have become a country that is able to provide the opportunities those who emigrated…

Because there was a democratic vote by the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, which I presume the Deputies accept.

In preparation for the commencement of the Act, my Department has already begun to operate elements of the new asylum border procedure and to transition gradually to fully implementing the provisions that will be set out in this legislation. This transition is being undertaken within the framework of the existing legislation, which is the International Protection Act 2015. To begin this transition, new readiness teams were established in June 2025. Operations began in Citywest reception centre in July 2025, in part…

I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 11 — Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €151,551,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2026, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, for certain services administered by the Office of the Minister and…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 188(1).

I thank Deputy Carthy for his question. It is probably motivated by the "First Conviction" documentary that was on RTÉ in November of last year. It highlighted a conviction that was overturned by the Court of Appeal back in November 2021 on the grounds that court thought the interpretation services that were provided to the accused were unsatisfactory. I think the Court of Appeal judgment referred to very serious inaccuracies in the translation. The Deputy will be aware we have legislation in place to govern the qu…

Every day of the week there are a series of cases going on in the Central Criminal Court and in the circuit criminal court for which translation services are required. That is part of the consequence of having a multicultural society in which people from all backgrounds end up as witnesses or accused before the court. Any person who is accused of a criminal offence and who needs the services of a translator will have their own legal solicitor and counsel representing them. I suggest to the Deputy that it will becom…

The public can have full confidence in this. What happens in practice is that the Courts Service enters a contract with translation providers, those being companies that provide translation services. A fundamental requirement of that contract is that the contracted company must ensure interpreters possess the qualifications and competence appropriate to the tasks for which they are employed. The contract agreed under the central procurement framework sets the standards for interpreters supplied to the Courts Servic…

-----but this is not an issue in terms of undermining public confidence in the criminal justice system. It is a confident system.

I have been there.

I thank the Deputy for his question. Before I talk about legislation, I will repeat something he said there. Taking nitrous oxide is playing Russian roulette with your health. We know from what the HSE and the hospitals have said that there are many incidents of people suffering severe illnesses and damage to their health as a result of taking nitrous oxide. It can wreak severe neurological damage on an individual. It can damage your reproductive health and, really, you are playing Russian roulette if you take it. …

The Deputy can appreciate the difficulties that arise when we are dealing with something that is lawful, such as aerosol or spray deodorants. Obviously, we cannot ban them, but the Deputy is trying to put forward proposals that could facilitate their regulation. Even before we go down the avenue of starting to look at legislation, the most important thing we can do is to educate people and to warn young people about the dangers associated with nitrous oxide or the aerosol narrative that the Deputy just cited. It ca…

I agree with the Deputy that there certainly needs to be a two-pronged approach. We need to warn people. Sometimes we look at the drugs issue very much in terms of what legislation can be introduced. However, it is really about warning people of the dangers associated with taking drugs. Everyone in this House has seen terrible outcomes from people taking drugs. They are referred to as recreational drugs but there is no recreation associated with them. They ruin young people's lives and the people who are distributi…

Combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for the Government and for me. If the Deputy looks at the recent budget allocation and the recent establishment of Cuan, he will see that the Government has made a very specific decision that it wants a separate statutory agency to deal with this issue. We are putting in funding of €80 million in respect to this issue, which shows an increased investment of €12 million year on year, which is a sign of the Government's financial commitment. Similarly…

Last week, I commended Margaret Loftus. I do not know if it was to the Deputy but I certainly commended her in the House to a number of other Deputies. I commend her bravery and her perseverance. Ultimately, she did get the conviction she sought. A court held in her favour and recognised that she had been a victim of an assault and a judgment was delivered in that regard. The Deputy spoke about issues in respect of An Garda Síochána. I have to mention that Margaret Loftus commended Commissioner Justin Kelly on the …

I cannot formulate a policy based on one case. However, the cases the Deputy gives to me and other cases that are reported on the system generally influence and guide policy in the area. Some cases will take time no matter what level of resources we have put into them. For example, historic sexual abuse cases are going to take time because the gardai have to go back and seek witnesses from many years ago so no matter what level of resources I put in and no matter how many judges are there to deal with cases on an e…

I thank the Deputy for her question. Before giving the specifics, I will outline the method by which we organise refuge spaces and safe houses. It is through Cuan, collaborating with various stakeholders. The Deputy will be aware that Cuan collaborates with domestic violence services, approved housing bodies, the Department of housing and local authorities to facilitate local action and support service development and the delivery of safe accommodation and ancillary services. Currently, the number of safe accommoda…

I am conscious of the Deputy's interest in refuges in Monaghan and Cavan. I was in Cavan–Monaghan recently. Progress is being made in respect of Monaghan and I had discussions with the local authority in Cavan. On safe accommodation spaces nationwide, including refuges and safe homes, the number stands at 232. I realise the Deputy wants to focus on numbers but the most important thing is to ensure as broad a range of refuges and safe homes as possible throughout the country. Considerable progress is being made in r…

I will deal with Deputy Ó Muirí’s point in the first instance. I was out at Aoibhneas in his constituency, which is also that of Deputy Brabazon. Obviously, there are good refuges there. The 12-week window is not a rule of Cuan. I have spoken to Cuan in respect of it. I have spoken to the service providers. They do not have a 12-week period during which you can stay and you have to go afterwards. There is no strict rule in respect of that. In regard to the number issues raised by Deputy Bennett, when I am talking a…

I thank Deputy Gannon. I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 155 together. The answer for 2025 is 669. The answer for 2024 was 979. Deputy Gannon has asked me questions in respect of refugee status applications for family protection. As he will be aware, there is another type of family reunification that arises as well. That is for individuals who have not been granted refugee status but who are here working. That is referred to as non-EEA family reunification. That process is not a statutory scheme. It is an ad…