Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
General Scheme of the International Protection Bill 2025: Discussion
2:00 am
Dr. Tricia Keilthy:
I just wanted to highlight there is an opportunity now because of the review of the Child Care Act, which is silent at the moment on the issue of unaccompanied minors. There is now an opportunity for this committee to engage with the children's committee on that to ensure there is sufficient protection and provision for unaccompanied minors across those two vital items of legislation.
More broadly, the big gap we see in the international protection scheme is the fact that the best interest principle is not properly incorporated throughout the legislation. It is there in parts but not in all parts. We see that as a major gap. There is now an opportunity to really strengthen that to ensure the best interests of the child, whether accompanied or unaccompanied, are considered throughout all processes of international protection and that clear guidance is given as to how that is operationalised as well.
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