Will Ireland's new immigration laws affect asylum seeker numbers?

Since taking over the Department of Justice, Jim O'Callaghan has embarked on a firmer, more hardline approach to immigration in this country.

New legislation brought forward by the Minister this week and approved by Government, will speed up the time it takes to process an application for asylum, reducing the entire process from years to just a matter of months.

However, the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland have already dropped considerably when compared with this time last year.

A total of 3,021 asylum applications were made between January and March 2025, compared to 5,162 during the first three months of 2024, a drop of more than 40 per cent.

Why have the numbers seeking international protection in this countries fallen and is this decrease reflected across Europe?

And how much do the Government’s immigration policies, such increased deportation orders and the expansion of its ‘safe list’ of countries, actually impact whether or not people come to Ireland seeking safety?

Immigration lawyer Cathal Malone discusses the drop in numbers and whether Government policies are responsible for this change.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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