'Half baked' migration law not fit for purpose says Alan Kelly

Labour Justice spokesperson and Tipperary TD, Deputy Alan Kelly, has condemned the Minister for Justice’s latest announcement on changes to migration policy.

Deputy Kelly says proposals to force families to wait three years for reunification are cruel, legally questionable, and risk doing real harm to integration, as the Government again announces headline grabbing measures without clarity, legislation, or safeguards.

Deputy Alan Kelly said: “The proposal to force people to wait three years before they can reunite with their families is inhumane and runs directly against everything we should stand for as a country. Family reunification is not some optional extra.

"It is a cornerstone of integration, stability, and dignity. Deliberately keeping families apart for years will cause harm and make it harder for people to put down roots, work, and contribute to their communities. This is a cruel measure dressed up as reform.

“We also need to be honest about the stress and uncertainty this creates for people already in the system. Many families are making life decisions based on existing timelines. Government is now pulling the rug from under them with no warning and no clarity. That kind of instability is reckless and unfair, and it risks pushing people into prolonged limbo.

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“While quicker determinations are obviously welcome in principle, Government has completely failed to explain how this will actually be delivered. Announcing faster decisions means nothing if there is no detail, no resources, and no clear process. We have heard promises like this before, and they have not been met. Without transparency, this is just another soundbite.

“There are also serious legal questions hanging over what the Minister is now proposing, particularly around restrictions on oral hearings. These are not minor technical issues. They go to the heart of fair procedures and due process, and they risk creating a system that will be mired in legal challenges.

“It is hugely significant that we are now being told that key parts of this law will not even be introduced until committee stage. The Minister is talking about sweeping changes to people’s lives, yet refuses to allow for proper scrutiny and informed debate from the outset. That is simply not good enough.

“At the same time, Government has questioned the EU Migration pact which will provide free legal counselling to international protection applicants under the incoming bloc wide migration pact. That combination raises very serious concerns about fairness and access to justice.

“We have all heard the drip drip of new measures the Government claims will tackle migration. Time and again, announcements are made in isolation, without coherence, and without regard for the human consequences. This approach creates confusion and fuels fear. Migration policy needs to be fair, lawful, and grounded in reality, not driven by panic or politics.”