Human rights watchdog warns that International Protection Bill could 'criminalise' asylum seekers

Former director of the ICCL and now chief commissioner of IHREC, Liam Herrick. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The State’s human rights watchdog has stated that the Government’s draft asylum bill “greatly expands” detention powers and is concerned that it could include electronic tagging and tracking of applicants.

It said the broad suite of powers under the International Protection Bill 2025 “will lead to the effective criminalisation” of asylum seekers in some cases.