My Department continues to focus on preparing for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in advance of June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.
The new International Protection Bill 2026 gives effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026.
The International Protection Bill 2026 delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to implement the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact by 12 June 2026.
This Bill represents the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State. It will put in place a new framework to manage migration and asylum for the long term. It will improve decision-making structures within the international protection system and provide faster timelines for the processing of international protection applications.
While projections for future levels of international protections applications are uncertain and impacted by a range of factors, the introduction of the Pact is expected to better respond, firstly by reducing secondary movement through the EU, and secondly through the increased use of significantly accelerated processes.
This faster decision-making means that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner, and those whose applications are refused can be returned to their country of origin sooner.
In relation to processing costs to the State, this will be settled annually in the course of engagement on the Estimates process, as is currently the case.
In the medium to long-term this investment will show a return in the form of decreasing annual costs because of the improved, faster processing it will enable, thereby reducing the time an applicant remains in the system, and reducing significant accommodation and other costs.
