Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)

I thank An Ceann Comhairle and Members for the latitude. Similar to Deputy Carthy, I thank the staff in office of the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and the staff of IPAS for helping in recent weeks and months to dispel, where they arise, myths that are being spread purposely by far-right agitators. There was a particularly difficult situation in my locality in recent days. I am grateful to the Minister of State, his office and IPAS staff for their work in this regard. This goes right to the heart of what we are dealing with. This is a real and serious issue, which, if we continue to get wrong, will play into the hands of agitators. These agitators are using people who have, in many cases, come here for sanctuary as scapegoats for the systemic failures of the State in order to advance their own causes. While Ireland is not full, these agitators tell people in communities that are running on empty that other people are to blame when it comes to resources. I thank the Minister’s Department for helping with this matter.

The transfer of assets from another Department to the Minister’s Department makes absolute sense and is very welcome. In the previous Dáil term, there was almost a pass-the-parcel approach when it came to taking responsibility for this serious issue. That did not reflect well on anyone. Taking it all under one Department certainly makes sense.

The Minister referred to expediting decision processes. I wish to touch on that for a moment. It is relevant because the Minister discussed it. Rushing decisions will endanger lives. The time that is required should be taken in respect of these decisions. While they absolutely should not have taken as long as they have in the past, imposing three-month deadlines for asylum decisions prioritises bureaucratic speed over human fairness. International protection claims often involve trauma, persecution and complex histories. Arbitrary deadlines will inevitably lead to rushed, wrongful refusals and the real risk of deporting someone back to the danger from which they fled. That requires resourcing, much of which is contained in what we are discussing now.

What is proposed attacks the right to appeal. As we transfer the allocation of budgets, we must acknowledge that 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 for those facing trauma, language barriers or mistrust. Removing this safeguard will mean more unjust outcomes. It will also weaken political accountability. Handing direct deportation powers to the International Protection Office will remove a crucial layer of democratic oversight. Deportations should remain politically accountable decisions rather than being behind closed doors, which, of course, would require resourcing.

We are caving in to far-right narratives. We should acknowledge the 42% fall in international protection applications this year. The Government is still acting as if there is an asylum crisis when, in reality, this rush to be tough on migration plays directly to far-right talking points. It legitimises misinformation and fearmongering at a time when leadership should stand for truth and calm.

While the Minister may claim these changes align with the EU migration and asylum pact, the pact demands both efficiency and fairness, including the right to individual assessment and meaningful appeal.

Ireland is choosing to interpret this pact harshly by cutting safeguards to protect basic human rights when what is necessary is humanity and not a race to the bottom.

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