Proposing sweeping changes to asylum processes without showing how they can be achieved is a deeply cynical move, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon, who’s the party’s justice spokesperson, said:
“It’s no coincidence that, following his absence from the Garda Representative Association conference, where rank-and-file gardaí expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state of policing, Minister O’Callaghan is announcing the most sweeping, punitive changes to our asylum system in history.
“We’re all in agreement that Ireland needs a far more efficient asylum process, but that doesn’t mean it should have cruelty baked in.
“This legislation is not about fixing what is broken – it is about chasing headlines, caving to far-right pressure, and abandoning our obligations to basic fairness and human rights.
“The Minister has provided no roadmap to increase staffing for the International Protection Office or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal to adhere to the proposed deadlines, suggesting this announcement is nothing but pandering.
“Current processing times for asylum applications are on average three years. The government is now saying, by next year, this will be reduced to a maximum of six months – with the government open to enforcement action by the EU if this deadline is not met.
“The only way such a drastic slashing of time could be achieved so quickly is with a wholesale erosion of rights and fairness for those who are seeking protection in this country.
“International protection claims involve trauma, persecution, and complex histories. Arbitrary deadlines will inevitably lead to rushed and incorrect refusals – and the real risk of deporting people back into danger.
“The proposal to limit oral hearings strikes at the heart of fair process – oral hearings are essential for many applicants who cannot fully tell their stories through paperwork, particularly those facing trauma, language barriers, or mistrust.
“Removing this safeguard will mean more unjust outcomes.
“Handing direct deportation powers to protection officers removes a crucial layer of democratic oversight – deportations must remain politically accountable decisions.
“The Minister may claim these changes align with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, but the Pact demands both efficiency and fairness, including the right to individual assessment and meaningful appeal.
“The government is choosing to interpret the Pact harshly, cutting safeguards that protect basic rights. We should lead with humanity, not race to the bottom.”
April 29th, 2025