The Minister for Justice is acting in bad faith by progressing migration proposals which lack justification, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon:
“Today, the Cabinet is signing off on new migration proposals which have one overriding aim: to make life more difficult for migrants.
“One of the more performatively punitive measures being proposed is charging international protection applicants up to 40% of their income for accommodation. The government says this is only fair – international protection applicants should contribute from whatever meagre income they have.
“This is a proposal that may cost more to implement than it will raise. The set up costs alone are estimated at €1.7 million, while the annual running costs are expected to be nearly €750,000.
“The proposal isn’t even legally enforceable – those who don’t pay can’t be evicted because the State has a legal obligation to provide accommodation. Compelling tenants to way is impossible.
“This measure is likely self-defeating as it will make it harder for people to move out of IPAS accommodation. These are people who are mainly in low paid, precarious jobs, while much of the accommodation they are residing in is substandard and overcrowded.
“How can people ever hope to save for a deposit and get on with their lives when they are being charged to stay in direct provision?
“Given this proposal doesn’t make financial, legal or moral sense, why is the government moving ahead with it? The only answer is that the coalition parties want to signal that they’re tough on immigration, want to make migrants’ lives hard, and to deter others from coming here.
“Proposals to make family reunification, which is already tightly constrained, even more difficult are simply cruel – and could put lives at risk.
“There are major questions for this government on the approach it is taking to migration. At a time of rising hate and increased racism, we have seen a concerted effort from the government to frame migration in a negative context – fanning the flames of division.
“The government should instead deliver on its promise of a communication campaign to address myths and fearmongering about migration, and spend time speaking about the huge benefits of migration and its importance for our economy.
“When it comes to migration, many governments around the world are in a race to the bottom and this government seems determined to join them. But, if history has taught us anything, it is that political parties moving to the right on migration simply reward and give credence to those far-right parties who already occupy that space. This government is playing a dangerous game.”
November 26th, 2025