Catholic Bishops Condemn New International Protection Act as «Anti-Family»
Catholic bishops have condemned Ireland’s new International Protection Act, signed by President Catherine Connolly, as «anti-family» and unfair. They oppose child detention and new family reunification restrictions, citing concerns over due process and applicant rights. The law, intended to tighten asylum processes, has also drawn «serious concerns» from President Connolly.
Catholic bishops have condemned the new International Protection Act, signed into law by President Catherine Connolly this week, as «anti-family» and «overwhelmingly weighted towards firmness at the cost of fairness.»
Bishop Alan McGuckian, chair of the bishops’ Council for Migrants, Refugees and Justice and Peace, expressed deep regret that the Act allows for the detention of children, even in exceptional circumstances, aligning with UNHCR’s position against child detention for immigration reasons. The council also strongly opposes new family reunification restrictions, which introduce a two-year waiting period for beneficiaries of international protection to apply for reunification, deeming these measures «anti-family.»
The bishops voiced grave concerns that the law limits access to oral appeals, restricts applicants’ freedom of movement, and enhances Garda powers of arrest and detention. They also noted a lack of clarity regarding procedural safeguards in age assessments and protections for vulnerable applicants. While advocating for faster case processing, the council stressed this should not compromise due process and urged adequate resourcing for the Legal Aid Board ahead of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum’s commencement in June. President Connolly, despite signing the bill, also expressed «serious concerns» about the legislation.