'The Irish policy of enforced homelessness of men seeking asylum belongs in the category of inhuman treatment. Dealing with the real policy challenges of creating better systems of reception would take far more effort, insight and collaboration than the tough talk.' Photograph: Chris Maddaloni/The Irish Times
On November 17th, 2025, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan made a statement that Irish asylum policy should be aligned with that of the UK. In a direct copy of proposed UK measures, draft legislation that has yet to be published will seek to limit family reunification and access to citizenship for refugees – that is those who claim asylum and have been found to be in need of international protection.
Both sets of policies, if adopted, are likely to increase refugees’ recourse to irregular journeys, and in the case on the limitations of access to citizenship for settled refugees, may breach the Refugee Convention, as a report I recently co-wrote for the
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