Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Statement of Strategy 2025 - 2028 (Accessible Version)

As Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, I am pleased to publish this Statement of Strategy 2025-2028. The Strategy sets out the key strategic goals for the period and how the Department will implement my priorities and the commitments contained in the Programme for Government - Securing Ireland’s Future.

The Strategy contains important goals on protecting our security and supporting safe communities. To deliver these goals we will prioritise investment in An Garda Síochána, allowing the recruitment of more Gardaí and providing them with the resources and laws needed to do their job effectively, and to keep us safe. Over the next five years, we will support the Irish Prison Service to build almost 1,600 new prison spaces and support the prisons and the Probation Service to ensure that appropriate and effective sanctions are available to the courts.

New legislation will be brought forward to respond to the urgent challenges the justice system faces and to enable necessary reforms. My legislative priorities include the Recording Devices Amendment Bill, which will give Gardaí the power to retrospectively use facial recognition technology in serious criminal investigations. The new Miscellaneous Provisions Bill will amend procedures for disclosure of counselling records in sexual abuse trials and criminalise sex-for-rent. In line with the EU Migration Pact, the International Protection Bill will allow the resetting of the international protection process, while maintaining the integrity of our immigration framework.

To deliver an effective and accessible justice system, we will work to reduce waiting times for court hearings, reform our systems of legal aid and overhaul our Coroners service to provide compassionate and timely support to those who have been bereaved.

The Strategy also has a focus on immigration, to deliver a rules-based immigration system. As part of this we will develop the first National Migration and Integration Strategy. That strategy will take a balanced approach, recognising the huge value of migrants in our economy and our society, while also ensuring that our rules are enforced.

I would like to thank the teams throughout my Department for all their work, including in preparing this Strategy as well as all the stakeholders among the general public, across the public service and civil society who contributed to its development. I look forward to implementing the Strategy and the Programme for Government commitments alongside my colleagues, Minister Brophy and Minister Collins and with officials in my Department.

Together we continue to work towards making Ireland safe, fair and inclusive.