Taoiseach defends family reunification changes for refugees

The Taoiseach has defended proposed changes to Irish asylum law which would add a waiting period before successful international applicants can avail of family reunification.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan is to bring the draft International Protection Bill 2025 to Cabinet on Tuesday.

The Bill seeks to introduce immigration reforms as part of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum coming into effect from June this year.

It has been reported that the changes will include lengthening the time refugees must be in Ireland before applying for family reunification to three years.

Asked about the aim of such proposals while on his way into Cabinet, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said it was important to “get the balance right” in asylum law.

He said: “I think we have to have a fair system in terms of the asylum process.

“The most important aspect of that, I think, is to have a faster application process that people get results to their applications earlier, both in terms of the initial phase of the application and then subsequently in relation to any appeals – and that work is under way and quite significant progress has been made in terms of speeding up decisions in relation to applications for asylum.”

Mr Martin added: “And then what we’re doing aligns with the wider European Union experience and I think it’s important to get the balance right.”

The move was met with criticism from some quarters, with the Social Democrats’ Gary Gannon calling the changes “performative toughness”.

“Just over 1% of migration to Ireland occurs through family reunification,” he said.

“Restricting this pathway will not create housing, speed up processing, or relieve pressure on public services.

“It will only keep families apart.”

Aontu leader and Meath West TD Peadar Toibin welcomed the changes, and said the Government had not done enough on migration.

“Family reunification is not specifically for the purpose of providing shelter for those fleeing war and violence,” he said.

“It goes beyond that objective.

“If there are family members that need asylum, that route is open currently.”