Ireland could become one of the most severe regimes in Europe for those fleeing war and persecution under proposed changes to immigration law, activists and lawyers have warned. Under the proposed changes, judicial reviews in immigration law would be moved from the High Court to the Circuit Court for the first time in the history of the State. Immigration judicial reviews are extremely complex, involving EU law, constitutional law, administrative law and international human rights law, Mr Malone said. “It’s an access to justice issue.”Family reunification rulesThe Government also plans to significantly tighten family reunification rules. Proposal to restrict family reunification 'would be unusually severe by European standards'.

Source: Irish Examiner January 23, 2026 19:13 UTC