Irish Refugee Council

🔵 Sanctuary Runners were out across Ireland (and Brighton!) this weekend once again. There was sunshine, energy, and solidarity in motion. A special shoutout to Anwar’s 100th parkrun in Brighton 🙌 and to those who ran in memory of our friend Kay in Cobh. #RunAsOne

Will you join us this week? 💙

Belgian court deals blow to plans for 'strictest migration policy' The ruling by Belgium’s Constitutional Court suspended recently introduced asylum rules, in a blow to Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s attempts to introduce Belgium's “strictest migration policy yet”.

The Belgian Constitutional Court sends a clear signal: EU law and human rights matter.

👉The suspension protects family reunification rights, especially for people under subsidiary protection.

👉It prevents vulnerable asylum seekers (including families with children) from being left without shelter.

🟥 The International Protection Bill proposes to restrict family reunification, making it harder for refugees to bring close family to safety.

Family life is a right in our law. Email your TD today & ask them to protect it. Email Now🔗 action.uplift.ie/campaigns/ke...

#ActOnThePact #EUMigrationPact

Minister questions why 11 Sinn Féin TDs had to speak on a single amendment to International Protection Bill Dáil passes legislation by 74 to 65 votes and Bill now goes to Seanad

Minister questions why 11 Sinn Féin TDs had to speak on a single amendment to International Protection Bill

www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed A system that accelerates decision-making without sufficient legal clarity risks embedding errors, unlawfulness and injustice

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed

A system that accelerates decision-making without sufficient legal clarity risks embedding errors, unlawfulness and injustice

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

Immigration law overhaul: Five issues that have divided the Dáil Opposition TDs criticise plans to guillotine International Protection Bill on Wednesday

🗞️Immigration law overhaul: Five issues that have divided the Dáil

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

🟥Today marks four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ireland showed solidarity. But recent accommodation policy changes and system inefficiencies risk pushing people into homelessness, forcing others to return to a war zone and affects integration. 🔗Statement: tinyurl.com/49zaub9s

We’re racing towards Wear Red Day on Friday, 20th March 2026! 🟥

We’ll be joining communities all over #Ireland to celebrate diversity and take a united stand against racism.

Will you be wearing red?

Learn more on our website 🔗

#ShowRacismTheRedCard #WRD26

🆕High Court awards damages to two international protection applicants left street homeless in breach of EU law. We represented one client, awarded €9,500; a second applicant received €6,000. This comes amid ongoing homelessness.

Press release🔗 tinyurl.com/ytmbm54s
RTE article🗞️🔗 tinyurl.com/5n8umyef

Government accused of trying to rush through changes to asylum process Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Matt Carthy said the Government is "desperately now chasing to try to get legislation in place prior to the deadline" for the EU migration and asylum pact.

Government accused of trying to rush through changes to asylum process

www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...

🆕We submitted comments on Head 9 of the Civil Reform Bill to the Oireachtas Justice Committee. Transferring immigration judicial reviews from High Court to Circuit Court risks discrimination, limits rights remedies & overwhelming courts.

Full submission🔗 www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/media-centre...

Weekly earnings of IPA workers €544 in 2024 CSO figures indicate 74.1% of International Protection Applicants (IPAs) in employment were male

Weekly earnings of IPA workers €544 in 2024

CSO figures indicate 74.1% of International Protection Applicants (IPAs) in employment were male

"This 24 per cent lower than the median weekly earnings for a general employee in the Irish economy in 2024 (€711.56)."

www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Wait time for refugee family reunification to be altered to two years, says Minister Jim O’Callaghan tells Dáil International Protection Bill will be amended following comments by TDs

Wait time for refugee family reunification to be altered to two years, says Minister

www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...

People seeking international protection are still are sleeping rough-exposed to cold, wet weather and harassment.

Government policy should never require people to demonstrate eligibility for accommodation through rough sleeping.

We all deserve a safe and warm home. Contact your TD today.

Somalian teen refugee wins right to challenge State aftercare provision | BreakingNews The IRC is seeking a court order requiring the CFA to reassess whether the teenager needs further life assistance and if so, to provide an adult aftercare plan under the Child Care Act 1991.

Somalian teen refugee wins right to challenge State aftercare provision

www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/soma...

Strategic Plan 2025-2028 Launch YouTube video by Irish Refugee Council

Our Strategic Plan 2025–2028 sets out our vision and priorities at a critical moment for asylum law in Ireland and Europe. We remain committed to being fearless and relentless in defending the right to seek asylum.

Strategic Plan🔗 www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/about-us/str...

youtu.be/j0n84nmf-DA

Civil society Coalition slams new International Protection Bill - Irish Refugee Council

Our preliminary views as the Coalition on the EU Migration pact on the new International Protection Bill.

The Bill is being rushed through with key safeguards postponed. Reform must not come at the expense of fairness, safety, or due process.

Statement🔗 www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/media-centre...

🔔We will no longer be posting on X.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and here.

You can also subscribe to our newsletter 🔗 www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/sign-up-to-o...

Immigration levels overestimated by public, says ESRI Many people believe immigration is happening in Ireland on a larger scale than it really is, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Immigration levels overestimated by public, says ESRI www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...

Government plan to make refugees wait three years for reunification ‘cruel’, says charity Justice Minister says new legislation aims to strike a balance between the rights of asylum applicants and the wellbeing of the State

Government plan to make refugees wait three years for reunification ‘cruel’, says charity

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Lorcan Sirr: Across the EU, housing is more about spreadsheets than homes. That has to change From Porto to Tallinn, the objective of a middle-class society of homeowners is under severe threat

Across the EU, housing is more about spreadsheets than homes. That has to change

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

Report flags housing challenges facing migrant families Lone-parent migrant families with legal status in Ireland are trapped between Direct Provision and homelessness, according to research by ActionAid Ireland.

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Joint statement: EU states must not backtrack on refugee resettlement commitments | The IRC in the EU Joint statement calling on EU states not to backtrack on their refugee resettlement commitments

ECRE and other civil society organisations urged EU states not to backtrack on their refugee resettlement commitments in a joint statement.

Read the statement here👇

We spoke to @newstalkfm.bsky.social about the looming policy that will require people granted refugee status to wait for three years before bringing relatives including spouses and children.

More: “Cabinet to consider major reform of Ireland's asylum laws” 🔗 link.goloudplayer.com/s/pGEPwHFlUWx3

Sharp drop in number of asylum applications in Ireland last year Applications for asylum in Ireland dropped by almost 30 per cent in 2025 compared to previous year

Sharp drop in number of asylum applications in Ireland last year

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

Nick Henderson: Ireland has choice on migration - follow the UK into the vortex or hold onto its values What was different about the measures announced last week is that they target refugees – people who have already been through the process

"This State now has a choice. It can follow the UK down a retrograde vortex in which parties of the left or centre try to outright the right, or it can hold firm to our values"
Nick Henderson
@irishrefugeeco.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Our IAS team represented team Irish Refugee Council at the Fingal Integration Connections Expo recently, sharing our work with over 168 participants.

Learn more: www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie