The Minister for Justice has insisted that asylum seekers should not come to view Ireland as “more favourable” than the UK.
Jim O’Callaghan made the remarks after the UK Home Secretary revealed extensive reforms aimed at reducing the UK’s appeal to asylum seekers, reports Breaking News
Mr O’Callaghan said the changes could influence the movement of asylum seekers between Ireland and the UK.
In a statement on Tuesday, he said: “I am committed to ensuring that Ireland is not viewed more favourably than the UK by those seeking to claim asylum. Consequently, I will closely monitor the changes proposed by the UK Government and will respond to those proposals having considered them fully and discussed them with government colleagues.”, reports Breaking News
He said that “any necessary changes arising from the UK’s change of policy” could be added to that Bill.
Among the measures introduced in the UK, refugees under core protection will lose the automatic right to family reunion, reports Breaking News
Mr O’Callaghan noted that he had already ordered a review of Ireland’s approach to family reunification prior to the UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s announcement.
He added that proposals on the issue would be presented to Cabinet “shortly”, reports Breaking News
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The Tánaiste has meanwhile said that the UK and Irish governments must “grasp this window of opportunity” to deliver “truth, accountability and, where possible, justice” for the victims of the Troubles and their families.
Speaking at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) at Farmleigh House in Dublin on Monday, Simon Harris thanked the British Government for “bringing forward the UK legislation to amend the 2023 Legacy Act so swiftly”, reports Breaking News
In September, the leaders of both countries unveiled a shared framework to tackle long-standing legacy concerns in Northern Ireland.
One of the steps taken by the current UK Labour Government to address those issues is new legislation known as the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, reports Breaking News
It is intended to reform areas of the 2023 Legacy Act, which had been brought in by the previous Conservative government.
The 2023 Act halted numerous civil cases and inquests into Troubles-related deaths and included a disputed conditional immunity arrangement for perpetrators who cooperated with a truth-recovery body, reports Breaking News
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill is due for its second reading in the UK House of Commons on Tuesday, and Mr Harris said that in its current form it “reflects what we have previously negotiated and agreed in the joint framework”.
Mr Harris said that both governments were working together on behalf of those affected by the Troubles, stating: “We’re doing this for the families. We’re doing this for the victims.”, reports Breaking News
“We’re doing this for the survivors who so desperately are seeking information that we must try and give them.”, reports Breaking News
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