Politics watch: Asylum reform, new guardianship bill
Guardianship and Children's Health among Bills to be introduced
The Dáil returns on Tuesday, April 29th, and there is plenty of business in a packed schedule.
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The Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025, will in certain situations, remove guardianship rights from individuals convicted of killing their partner or the other parent of their child.
Also on Tuesday will be the first stages of introducing the Criminal Law (Prohibition of the Disclosure of Counselling Records) Bill 2025.
This will look to ban the use of counselling notes in sexual assault cases.
There will also be a bill introduced to name the new National Children's Hospital after Mayo doctor
Dr Kathleen Lynn.
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Immigration reform
The Government has signed off on major changes which will overhaul Ireland's immigration system.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan brought the proposals to Cabinet, saying current processing times are "far too long" and "far too costly".
The new measures aim to expedite asylum seeker's applications, restrict appeals and fast track deportation orders.
Mr O'Callaghan said the changes will come into effect next year.
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"If we have it in law that there is a requirement that we have to have the process and appeal determined within three months, well, that simply is going to have to happen.
"The opportunity to have an oral hearing on appeal level will be the de facto situation as it is at present, an appeal hearing will only happen in exceptional circumstances."
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon believes the reforms are cruel.
"The idea that we can now take decision times down to three months where previously they had been up to two and three years, with the potential for another three month review. That seems to me that is something that will be unduly harsh, asylum is complex, it's not a one size fits all model."
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Mr O'Callaghan denied claims that the new system will be cruel.
"That's not the intention, I don't think it will be cruel, in fact what I think is cruel is for somebody to be in the aslyum process and to have their application and consideration hanging over them for a period of three years.
"I think it is much more efficient and fair if we have an asylum process that is determined within three months."
Military radar to be rolled out
Ireland's first
military radar system
is to rolled out from next year.
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The plans, that will allow hostile, surveillance and hijacked aircraft to be detected, will be brought to Cabinet this morning.
The Tánaiste said he's negotiating with four countries who will help develop the system, and he'll decide to partner with one by October.
Simon Harris, who is also Minister for Defence, said he won't know how much it will cost until talks finish.
Mr Harris said: "It will take a number of years to fully roll it out, but from early next year you'll see literally month on month, quarter on quarter, Ireland's radar capacity - and the capacity of our Defence Forces in relation to that - improving.
"This is really important. No country is immune from threats. All countries, including militarily neutral countries like Ireland, have to take their own security seriously, including what happens in our skies and what happens in our seas."
Summer legislation
Government Chief Whip Mary Butler has announced the summer legislation programme.
Among the range of legislation for publication and drafting are:
Defence (Amendment) Bill: Removing the Triple Lock requirement for overseas Defence Force deployments and introducing updates to courts-martial procedures.
Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve (Amendment) Bill: Introducing a regulatory framework to support a state-led strategic gas emergency reserve.
National Cyber Security Bill: Establishing the National Cyber Security Centre on a statutory basis to address growing cyber threats.
Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Introducing the safe and ethical use of facial recognition technology for serious offences.
Health (Amendment) Bill: Enhancing corporate governance within the HSE to improve financial and operational efficiency.
Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill: Regulating nicotine inhaling products (including flavours and packaging) and banning disposable vapes.
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill: Streamlining eligibility for social housing and addressing building control measures.
International Protection Bill: Implementing the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
Abroad
The Liberal Party has won the
federal election in Canada
, ending a process marked by US president Donald Trump's threats of a trade war and making the country the 51st American state.
With this result, the Liberal Party's leader and current prime minister, Mark Carney, will remain in the job – and will form a new government with a new cabinet.
Tuesday makes 100 days of Donald Trump's second term in office. They have been marked by a whirlwind of executive orders.
However, he has paused his tariffs amid global uncertainty and economic malaise.
Mr Trump is pushing for a peace deal in Ukraine but talks appear to have stalled.
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