Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has dismissed concerns that accelerating the asylum process would be inhumane or unkind, reports RTE.
He unveiled a major reform of Ireland’s asylum system, pledging that decisions on applications for international protection would be made within three months.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon earlier criticised the plan, saying that although the current system had issues, shortening the process did not reflect compassion and would instill fear in applicants, reports RTE.
In response, Mr O’Callaghan said he disagreed with the Dublin Central representative.
“What is cruel is asking someone to come into the country and then processing their application over a period of up to three years, that’s where the real cruelty arises,” reports RTE.
“What we need to have is a process that gives people a quick decision. If you succeed, and are entitled to asylum you can stay, if you don’t, you must leave,” reports RTE.
The minister argued that the current system is broken, with delays leading to high costs and inefficiency.
Under the new International Protection Bill 2025, most asylum and appeal decisions must be made within a three-month period.
Mr O’Callaghan said this would be accomplished by increasing staffing in the International Protection Office and reducing the number of oral appeal hearings, reports RTE.
He acknowledged the bill would allow for detention centres, though expressed hope that they wouldn’t be needed.
The draft version of the bill is now available, and it will be subject to pre-legislative review in the coming months.
It is anticipated that the complete bill will be revealed in November and must be enacted by June 2026 to meet obligations under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, reports RTE.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin earlier described the proposed asylum changes as “the most significant reform in decades”.
The new legislation will replace the 2015 Act and will, for the first time, let protection officers issue return decisions themselves, reports RTE.
Currently, those officers only make recommendations to the Minister for Justice.
Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting, the Taoiseach noted that most applicants for international protection in Ireland were not found to qualify for asylum.
“Up to 80% of people who have applied have not been found to be eligible for asylum. So there is a need for a much more accelerated timeline and processing in the interest of everybody,” Mr Martin added, reports RTE.
Nonetheless, Mr Gannon accused the minister of improvising immigration policy without adequate planning.
The TD for Dublin Central argued the three-month deadline was excessively strict and that the system should not be built on cruelty, reports RTE.
There has been a 42% drop in applications for International Protection during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary also rejected accusations that the proposed immigration reforms were harsh.
“It’s not cruel, it’s more efficient. I think what’s cruel is to leave people waiting for 15 months, effectively leaving them in limbo, and then at the end telling them they have to leave the country,” he said, reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, he added: “Telling people where they stand, whether they are allowed to wait in the country or not, in a much quicker way is much more humane. It’s much more efficient and it should be delivered,” reports RTE.
Mr Calleary also said the reforms would bring greater clarity for asylum seekers, something the current system lacks.
Peadar Tóibín, leader of Aontú, strongly criticised the Government’s handling of immigration, warning that failing to address the issue could lead to a further erosion of social cohesion, reports RTE.
He pointed out that the rejection rate for asylum claims has now reached 80%.
“I think the Government has sent out a message loud and clear over the last four or five years that if a person comes to this country, it’ll take about six years for their application to be properly processed. Even if their application fails and they receive a deportation order, they will not be deported,” reports RTE.
He continued: “Even today, the majority of people who receive deportation orders do not have deportations enforced,” reports RTE.
Mr Tóibín also highlighted the financial burden, saying that €1 billion was spent last year on housing asylum seekers.
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