An Oireachtas committee has recommended Ireland opts "out of the majority" of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
The Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has detailed its concerns in a report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Government's International Protection Bill 2025, which is the legislation to give effect to the EU pact.
The pact aims to tighten rules around immigration, including increasing border security, introducing biometric data for applicants seeking asylum, and creating a dedicated infrastructure for processing and accommodation.
When it was introduced and debated in the Dáil in 2024, the controversial pact was criticised as heavy-handed.
In the report’s foreword the Chair of the Committee, Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy, said there are "unique challenges" that Ireland would face due to the Common Travel Area it shares with Britain – and that the pact does not take that into account.
Among the other issues highlighted in the report are concerns about child welfare, social supports, legal advice and healthcare for international protection applicants.
The report points out Ireland could be liable for "hefty fines" if it fails to adhere to the commitments under the pact.
The committee welcomed "certain aspects of this legislation" but that it wanted to scrutinise and provide recommendations on key areas where "change or amendments" are warranted.
It has provided a total of 92 recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
