Taoiseach says Ireland’s immigration system rules need to be tightened

Micheál Martin made the comments ahead of new proposals being brought to Cabinet by Jim O’Callaghan, the minister for justice, on Tuesday afternoon

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa where he commented on changes to Ireland's immigration system. Picture: Henry Nicholls/PA

The Taoiseach has warned that Ireland’s immigration system cannot be an “outlier” and that rules must be “tightened”.

Micheál Martin made the comments on the final day of the G20 summit in South Africa, ahead of new proposals being brought to Cabinet by Jim O’Callaghan, the justice minister, on Tuesday afternoon.

It is expected that Mr O’Callaghan will bring three memos to Cabinet on asylum, citizenship, and family reunification.

It is expected that asylum seekers who have been convicted of serious crimes could have their residency revoked.

It has also been reported that people who have been granted refugee status and have availed of social protection in the last two years, or have debt, will not be allowed to apply for citizenship.

Mr Martin said that this will not apply to those who have availed of maternity benefits, but insisted that rules must be changed.

“This is a modest enough overhaul, but an important one. It's fair and it's robust, and it's also aligning with what's happening elsewhere,” Mr Martin said.

We've always taken a humanitarian approach, but I think there is a necessary tightening up that is required in terms of both the asylum process and in terms of the citizenship process in Ireland.

“That's, in essence, what is envisaged by these reforms. They did come before the party leaders and also before the Cabinet subcommittee [on migration], so we’ve discussed these in relative detail."

It will mean Ireland is not an outlier in terms of benefits and so on in terms of other jurisdictions, he said.

“We see what's happening in the UK, even though we were looking at these reforms before the UK's latest reforms. There are knock-on effects, consequences from what others do.

“That's the reality. We have to be realistic about it, and we have to be firm about it, and also, we have to accelerate, and we are, the processes.

“It's taken too long historically for people to have their asylum applications processed and concluded. We've now made a lot of progress on the first phase of that. The appeals stage is being staffed up.

“Minister O’Callaghan has particular plans to enhance the resources there so that we get a faster timeline in terms of appeals as well, so people aren't waiting for prolonged periods of time.”

Mr Martin told a Botswanan journalist who asked why people from the country need visas to come to Ireland that rules need to be put in place for different countries because “they can get exploited a bit and can lead to certain migratory patterns”.

Regrets of Fianna Fáil election candidate Gráinne Seoige

Elsewhere, Mr Martin responded to an interview by former Fianna Fáil election candidate Gráinne Seoige, who said running in last year’s election was the biggest regret of her life.

She also hit back at suggestions she was a “celebrity” candidate “parachuted in” by the Fianna Fáil leader.

“She was selected at the location convention, alongside [now] deputy John Connolly, so I understand where she's coming from,” he said.

“It's very challenging to run in elections, and it is very challenging for women to come forward, and I acknowledge what Gráinne said.

“It was a very challenging election for her, and elections more generally are becoming very challenging for people.

“That is an issue for our democracy more generally. It's sad that a person found themselves in that position and that perspective.”