Jim O'Callaghan

The International Protection Bill 2026 will completely replace the International Protection Act 2015 with new legislation in line with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

However, campaigners have criticised aspects of the bill for going further than required by EU rules, including new restrictions on family reunification rights for refugees.

Justice, home affairs and migration minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “This government fundamentally believes in the right to claim asylum. We will always uphold our obligation on this important principle of international law for those who need our protection.

“At the same time, I recognise that our current system for processing international protection applications can be more efficient, faster and less costly.

“The International Protection Bill is a reset of our international protection system that will streamline decisions and the returns process, introduce a new ‘border procedure’ with a three-month time limit for decisions, appeals, and return orders in appropriate cases.

“The bill will also create a new second instance body called the Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals (TARA) and allow for fewer oral appeal hearings to make the process more efficient.

“It will also establish a new chief inspector of asylum border procedures — an independent rights monitor.

“These reforms will continue to ensure the rights of applicants, under EU and Irish law.”

The minister and the Attorney General are said to be developing provisions for inclusion in the bill to reflect the government’s announcement last November on family reunification rights.

These will provide that adults who are beneficiaries of international protection will not be entitled to seek family reunification for a period of three years following their grant of international protection.

They must also demonstrate that they are financially self-sufficient, which will be assessed by reference to appropriate income thresholds to be prescribed by the minister.

They must also not be in receipt of certain social welfare payments or owe money relating to International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) payments.

Amendments will also be brought forward at committee stage to address material reception conditions, restrictions of movement, detention, special reception needs and labour market access, as required by the EU Reception Conditions Directive.

Other matters to be dealt with by amendments to the bill during the legislative process include legal counselling, legal advice and legal aid, and matters relating to data sharing.

Colm Brophy, minister of state for migration, added: “This new legislation reflects a shared European approach to asylum, aligning Ireland’s procedures with those applied across the EU.

“By strengthening convergence, clarity and consistency, it delivers a more streamlined, firm, fair and effective international protection system, in line with Ireland’s national and international obligations.

“The legislation delivers on the programme for government commitment to ‘implement the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact through a new International Protection Act’.”

The government says it is aiming to enact the legislation this spring so that it can become operational by an EU deadline of 12 June 2026.

The Irish Refugee Council has called on the government to withdraw the “cruel proposals” on family reunification.

“Jim O’Callaghan and Colm Brophy are intent on keeping families separated,” Irish Refugee Council CEO Nick Henderson said yesterday.

“These changes, on top of those proposed in November, will result in families being torn apart for five years or more.

“A person is likely to wait at least a year for their protection application to be processed, followed by a further 18 months for a family-reunification application, based on current waiting periods.

“Only then — after an additional mandatory three-year waiting period — can they even apply to be reunited with their spouse or child.

“During this time, partners and children may remain in situations of serious harm and persecution.

“We call on the government to withdraw these cruel proposals immediately.”