Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution on the topic of international protection processing and enforcement. It is an area in which, in spite of enormous challenges, the Government has made sustained progress in the right direction. It is critical to point out at the outset that migrants make an immense contribution to Irish society. People are welcome to come here, work, study and join family so long as they do so legally, as the vast majority do.

Migrants' presence here in Ireland contributes to a rich and culturally diverse society that we should all value. Amidst an unprecedented number of arrivals in recent years, the Government has ramped up staffing levels in the International Protection Office, IPO, showing a real commitment to speeding up the international protection process and improving effectiveness and efficiency. Through September of this year, the total number of applicants had reduced by 38.5%. In addition, enforcement had significantly stepped up, with an increase of 105% on the same period in 2024. However, while this progress is being made, it is important that we recognise, and indeed challenge, the increasingly hostile online commentary that has grown up regarding immigration in Ireland. The claim that migrants coming to Ireland are unvetted is entirely false. All international protection applicants have their fingerprints and photographs taken and these are checked against EU databases. Of course, we must also recognise there are many communities throughout the country who have legitimate concerns about migration, which we must address by having sensible, honest and rational discussions with local communities.

While debating the issue recently on KCLR, I outlined my view that the best way of challenging those sections of society that engage in hateful and divisive rhetoric on the issue is by continuing to deliver a firm but fair migration system that recognises people's right to stay here but also deals robustly with cases of people who do not have that right. That is why the Government is bringing forward the international protection Bill. This new legislation will bring important changes, which will streamline the decisions process, as well as the returns process, and will provide new institutional arrangements for international protection decisions and appeals.

The Bill also signals the Government's intention to shift away from the emergency use of hotels, with a preference now expressed for facilities on State-owned land. This will be a welcome relief to hoteliers and local communities, and will also be cheaper in the long run.

I commend the former Minister for justice, Deputy McEntee, and the current Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on their work to streamline Ireland's international protection processing service. I also acknowledge the ambition and efforts of the Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Brophy. The best way of lowering the temperature when it comes to debating immigration is to focus on the delivery of a robust, fair and firm system, and the international protection Bill is a key component of that delivery.

While a lot has been done, we all know that there is much more to do. I welcome the Government's determination in getting this work done.

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