Immigration
Bills affecting immigration, asylum, citizenship, refugees and international protection.
20 bills tracked under this topic.
International Protection Bill 2026
26 Mar 2026 Fifth Stage Current
- Updates Irish law to implement seven new EU asylum and migration rules from 2024, covering reception standards, refugee qualification, processing procedures, resettlement, and biometric data sharing.
- Creates two new bodies: an asylum appeals tribunal and an inspector office for border asylum procedures. Replaces parts of the 2015 International Protection Act.
- Permits gathering information from protection applicants, allows removal of certain persons from Ireland, and amends nationality, immigration, and trafficking laws accordingly.
Repeal of Exempted Development Regulations Bill 2026
27 Feb 2026 Second Stage Current Eoin Ó Broin
- Removes two regulations (2022 and 2023) that exempted certain developments from planning permission for temporary accommodation for asylum seekers and people with temporary protection status.
- Practical effect: Developments for such accommodation will now require standard planning permission instead of being automatically exempted from the planning process.
- Bill is at Second Stage; specific details on which accommodation types are affected or transition arrangements are not provided in the long title.
International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Frances Black
- Refugees and people with subsidiary protection can apply to bring qualifying family members to Ireland, including parents, siblings, children, and grandparents.
- Expands family reunification to include wards and guardians alongside traditional relations, widening who counts as eligible family.
- Bill currently in committee stage; establishes legal framework for processing these family reunification applications.
Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Citizenship for Children) Bill 2020
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Mick Barry
- Restores Irish citizenship eligibility to all persons born on the island of Ireland, regardless of parent nationality.
- Extends citizenship eligibility to children resident in Ireland for a specified period; current bill stage lacks detail on exact duration.
- Enhances citizenship pathways for children living in Ireland; specific eligibility criteria and implementation mechanisms not provided in available information.
Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2023
21 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Sharon Keogan
- Creates a new state honour called 'Gradam an Uachtaráin' to recognise exceptional citizen achievements and outstanding contributions.
- President will have power to confer this honour; bill sets out rules for how awards are granted and managed.
- Bill currently at Committee Stage; specific eligibility criteria and selection process details not provided in long title.
Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) (Web Archive) Bill 2024
30 Jan 2025 First Stage Lapsed Lynn Boylan
- Amends copyright law to require collection and preservation of Ireland's digital content online, ensuring permanent public access.
- Aims to safeguard Ireland's intellectual and cultural record for citizens, researchers, and international audiences.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; current status of provisions or reintroduction unknown.
Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020
30 Jan 2025 First Stage Lapsed Fiona O'Loughlin
- Creates hate crime laws. Adds harsher penalties when listed crimes target people based on asylum status, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or age.
- Applies to specific offences named in the bill's schedule. Courts must impose increased sentences when hate motivation is proven alongside these base crimes.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage. Not enacted into law; current status of hate crime legislation in Ireland unclear from this bill alone.
Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018
30 Jan 2025 Second Stage Lapsed Ged Nash
- Allows minors born in Ireland to apply for Irish citizenship certificates without waiting until age 18.
- Amends naturalisation law to streamline the process for children born on the island of Ireland.
- Bill did not progress beyond Second Stage and is no longer active in the legislature.
Health (Inspection of Emergency Homeless Accommodation and Asylum Seekers Accommodation) Bill 2021
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Eoin Ó Broin
- HIQA gains power to inspect emergency homeless accommodation that local authorities help fund under Housing Act 1988.
- HIQA gains power to inspect asylum seeker reception and accommodation centres covered by EU reception conditions rules.
- Amends Health Act 2007 to enable these inspections and grant HIQA enforcement authority over these facilities.
Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends nationality, citizenship, and immigration laws; updates court procedures for juries, bankruptcy, and civil liability cases.
- Updates court administration: centralizes offices, maintains electronic registers, changes staff appointment rules for judges and court officers.
- Expands Data Protection Commission powers to issue reprimands and protect confidential information; gives District Court jurisdiction over data protection disputes.
Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Allows certain asylum seekers to work, receive childcare payments, and have driving licences recognised; amends immigration and road traffic laws accordingly.
- Provides payments to people offering accommodation to asylum seekers; establishes scheme supporting road haulage operators.
- Enables data collection from arriving persons for immigration processing; creates special jury provisions for Stardust nightclub inquest inquiries.
Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Temporarily reintroduces mandatory quarantine for people entering Ireland from Covid-19 high-risk areas, as designated by the Minister.
- Requires quarantine for arrivals who fail Covid-19 testing requirements. Allows alternatives for asylum seekers and unaccompanied children.
- Gives Government power to designate quarantine facilities, arrange transport, and make service agreements to manage quarantine operations.
Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Creates a points registration system for Irish fishing boat masters, tracking violations under EU fishing regulations.
- Amends sea fisheries laws to enforce EU rules on fishing boat operations and master conduct standards.
- Updates existing point system regulations and related fisheries enforcement procedures.
Health (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends Health Act 1947 to strengthen enforcement of Covid-19 regulations, including power to make rules about disease control measures.
- Requires people entering Ireland from high-risk Covid-19 areas to quarantine in designated facilities; Minister can designate which areas apply.
- Provides exemptions: asylum seekers and unaccompanied children can use alternatives to quarantine facilities; authorities can transport people to quarantine locations.
Principles of Social Welfare Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 First Stage Defeated Seán Sherlock
- Creates a statement of principles to guide how social welfare laws are interpreted and administered by government agencies.
- Establishes a social welfare charter outlining rights to information, advocacy, and support for people applying for or receiving benefits.
- Requires government to promote awareness of social welfare entitlements and gives Citizens Information Board expanded powers to support applicants.
Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Child maintenance payments no longer counted when calculating social welfare benefits. Liable relatives rules removed.
- Non-Irish residents granted permission under International Protection Act 2015 gain clearer welfare eligibility. Two acts amended for consistency.
- Updates social welfare means-testing rules and residency provisions for international protection beneficiaries.
Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020
11 May 2021 Enacted
- Updates Irish law following UK's EU withdrawal: maintains Common Travel Area rights, protects economy, enables healthcare reimbursement for Northern Ireland residents.
- Adjusts extradition, refugee procedures, divorce recognition, defamation privilege, and construction product rules to function without UK-EU membership.
- Enacts exception allowing Ireland to reimburse eligible Northern Ireland residents' medical costs in EU states, honoring the Good Friday Agreement.
Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016
20 Apr 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Victor Boyhan
- Allows people waiting 4+ years for refugee or subsidiary protection decisions to regularise their residency status.
- Applies to applicants whose cases remain undetermined after four years from submission date.
- Bill lapsed; never became law. Would have provided legal residency pathway for long-delayed asylum applicants.
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed John Brady
- Removes specific functions from the Citizens Information Board; details of which functions are not specified in available text.
- Amends the Comhairle Act 2000; practical effect of amendments not detailed in provided information.
- Bill lapsed before completion; never became law. Sponsor: John Brady.
Electoral (Extension of Voting Rights to Non-Irish Citizens) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Ruth Coppinger
- Allows all adults living in Ireland to vote in Dáil and European Parliament elections, regardless of citizenship.
- Changes voting eligibility from Irish/EU citizens only to any adult ordinary resident, expanding the electorate.
- Bill was introduced but did not progress beyond First Stage and has since lapsed without becoming law.