Government tightens Ireland's immigration rules amid rising refugee numbers

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the Government U-turn was necessary to curb possible abuses of the system, and to uphold public confidence in it. File picture

The Government will tighten immigration rules today, Tuesday, by ending visa-free travel for refugees from 20 other European nations — a “worrying and unsavoury” decision, according to a migrant rights group.

From 12pm today, people who have been granted refugee status in other European countries can only travel to Ireland if they have a visa, following a decision by the Government to suspend the operation of a Council of Europe agreement for 12 months.