Colin Sheridan: New reforms risk transforming what it means to be an immigrant in Ireland

Recently unveiled reforms signal a sharper, more conditional, approach to migration and integration, a policy shift seemingly premised not only on numbers but on redefining belonging

New Irish citizens stand to attention for the national anthem after receiving their citizenship at a special ceremony in Killarney, Co Kerry, last week. Picture: Don MacMonagle

When justice minister Jim O’Callaghan stood on the plinth outside Government Buildings recently to unveil the Government’s latest migration reforms, it was clear: this was not just a tweak, it was a major revamp of how Ireland treats asylum seekers, refugees, and non-EEA residents.

With population growth reaching 1.6% last year, reportedly seven times the EU average, the Government says the reforms respond to pressure on public services, housing, and overall State capacity. But many who are already living, working, or raising families here fear the new rules will affect their lives in a markedly negative way, eroding their sense of belonging, even after years, sometimes decades, of building lives in Ireland.