President Higgins signs asylum bill to speed up refugee verification into law

Migrant and children’s groups have warned individual families will take the State to court over new rules governing refugees coming to Ireland after President Michael D Higgins last night signed the International Protection Bill into law.

After the President called in the Council of State for only the second time under his tenure over fears the new law could be unconstitutional, Mr Higgins yesterday accepted he can agree to add it to the statute.

The decision over the legislation was taken after the council met on Tuesday to examine the matter.