Ireland’s equality body says ‘no meaningful engagement’ on immigration bill

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

There was “no meaningful engagement” on the Government’s bill containing a swathe of immigration changes, Ireland’s equality body has said.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission said the draft laws were “guillotined” in the Dáil, with “no line-by-line” scrutiny of the bill and just 14 of around 300 amendments discussed.

The International Protection Bill 2025 is now to go before the Seanad and needs to be signed by the Irish President before it becomes law.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan brought the bill, which seeks to introduce immigration reforms as part of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum coming into effect from June this year, to Cabinet in January.

The bill requires a decision on asylum forms within three months and any appeals must be concluded in a further three months.

The changes also include a three-year wait time for people granted asylum in Ireland before they can apply for family reunification, and they must also prove they are self-sufficient.

“Last night, after just over four hours of discussion, the bill was guillotined after reaching amendment 22,” the Commission said.

“As a result, there was no meaningful engagement with the amendments, and the vast majority were not debated at all.”

It said among the proposed amendments were the prevention of the unlawful detention of children; to ensure that invasive medical examinations to determine a child’s age are conducted by appropriately qualified medical professionals; and strengthened protections for victims of trafficking.

Changes to family reunification provisions were also not debated, it said.

Liam Herrick, chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission said it was a “significant missed opportunity”.

“The guillotining of this bill without proper scrutiny of approximately 300 amendments represents a significant missed opportunity to ensure that Ireland’s international protection system fully respects fundamental rights.

“The amendments that have not been debated include core safeguards for children, for victims of trafficking, and for other vulnerable groups seeking international protection.

“The Commission reiterates that robust parliamentary scrutiny is essential where legislation affects people in situations of acute vulnerability and where fundamental rights are engaged.”