Overview
- Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan brought the draft International Protection Bill 2025 to Cabinet, with commencement reported for June.
- People granted asylum would face a three-year wait before applying for family reunification and would need to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency.
- O’Callaghan detailed new accelerated and border procedures covering most applications, with first-instance decisions in three months and appeals concluded within a further three months.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended the approach as a balance that prioritizes faster outcomes in line with broader European practice.
- Opposition parties and stakeholders criticized the proposals, citing risks of prolonged family separation and child detention concerns, while Aontú welcomed tougher measures as insufficient.