Government accused of trying to rush through changes to asylum process

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Matt Carthy said the Government is "desperately now chasing to try to get legislation in place prior to the deadline" for the EU migration and asylum pact.

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Matt Carthy said it is 'unfortunate' that debate was not taking place at the justice committee. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

The opposition have accused the Government of seeking to rush through new laws to reform Ireland’s asylum process, as TDs hit out at a prolonged Dáil debate.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has been criticised over an eight-hour debate in the Dáil on the legislation, with TDs saying discussions around amendments should take place in committee hearings.

The International Protection Bill is a major reform to Ireland’s asylum laws, seeking to align State policy with that of the EU migration and asylum pact.

The legislation will include an accelerated processing system for asylum seekers, with a legal requirement for a first-instance decision within three months. Individuals who are granted asylum will not be permitted to bring their family to Ireland for two years, as part of family unification changes.

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Matt Carthy accused Mr O’Callaghan of rushing through the draft laws.

“It is [being rushed] because the minister and the parties of Government have locked us into an EU migration and asylum pact and they are desperately now chasing to try to get legislation in place prior to the deadline for that pact, which is the summer,” Mr Carthy said.

“Even though the minister knows there is absolutely not a chance in hell within this year at all, at any stage in this year, that the Government is going to be in a position to adhere to the stipulations contained within either the asylum and migration pact or this act.”

Mr Carthy, who chairs the Oireachtas justice committee, said it is “unfortunate” that debate was not taking place at the committee, claiming the Dáil chamber is not the “forum”.

Mr O'Callaghan rejected assertions that the laws were being rushed through the Oireachtas, citing “careful consideration” of the general scheme in pre-legislative scrutiny.

He said three days of debate on the bill were held earlier in February, and on the final day the Dáil “ran out of speakers” from both the Government and opposition.

He defended the decision to take committee stage of the bill in the Dáil, saying it would have taken the justice committee an “inordinate period of time” to scrutinise the bill.

Mr Carthy said an amendment to delay commencement of the legislation until Mr O’Callaghan could demonstrate that Ireland was capable of complying with it was sensible.

In response, Mr O’Callaghan said there had been an agreement between EU member states participating in the migration and asylum pact for it to come into effect on June 12.

“Ireland takes is obligations extremely seriously, and we want to ensure that we are ready and that the legislation is in place by June 12 next, because that is the commitment,” he said.

Mr O’Callaghan said there would be discussion on all 267 amendments.