Minister Jim O’Callaghan announces passage of International Protection Bill 2026 through the Houses of the Oireachtas
- Published on: 15 April 2026
- Last updated on: 15 April 2026
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has today announced the passage of the International Protection Bill 2026 through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The legislation represents the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State in line with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
The overall objective of the Bill is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure that is consistent with how asylum laws operate across the EU.
The passage of the Bill aligns with the Programme for Government commitment to ‘implement the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact through a new International Protection Act.’
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said:
“This Bill represents a pivotal step in our implementation of a rules-based migration and asylum system in Ireland and across all EU member states.
“The Pact recognises that migration requires sharing responsibility, robust and fair management of external borders, and stronger governance of asylum and migration policies.
“It remains clear that migration is inherently a transnational issue. No country can deal with the challenges around migration alone.
“I am proud of the committed and collective work that has been done to get the Bill to this stage. I want to particularly thank officials in my Department, the Office of Parliamentary Council, and the Advisory Council in the Attorney General’s Office. I look forward to seeing the results that the Pact will yield.”
Faster decision-making under the Bill means that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner, and those whose applications are refused can be returned to their country of origin sooner.
This will result in increased savings to the exchequer with applicants spending much less time in the International Protection process and in accommodation.
Minister Colm Brophy added:
“This Government is committed to ensuring a firm, fair and effective migration system. The passage of this Bill represents an important milestone in ensuring our international protection system is working as it should.
“This Bill should reduce the overall number of applicants, firstly by reducing secondary movement through the EU, and secondly through the increased use of significantly accelerated processes.
“With an improved system, I want to see a reduction in IPAS centres around Ireland and a move towards more sustainable migration in the years ahead.”
ENDS…///
Notes for editors
The International Protection Bill 2026 will give effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026.
Under the International Protection Bill 2026, upon arrival to the State, applicants will be required to go through screening, which will involve initial security and identity checks and the taking of biometric data for registration on the Eurodac system.
During the screening process, applicants will undergo further security, identity, health and vulnerability checks. Applicants will be provided with information about the international protection process, their rights and responsibilities, and be supported with legal counselling. This screening process will determine the procedure under which the applicant’s international protection application will be examined.
International protection applicants will have their asylum claim examined through clearly defined mandatory timelines. These are two months under the inadmissibility procedure, three months under the accelerated procedure, three months under the asylum border procedure and six months under the ordinary procedure. The border procedure has the shortest duration with a first instance decision, a return decision and an appeal of both of those decisions within 12 weeks.