Photograph: Niall Carson/PA WireMinister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has questioned the need for 11 Sinn Féin TDs to speak on a single party amendment during debate on the controversial International Protection Bill. Sinn Féin justice spokesman Matt Carthy had introduced an amendment requiring local or other State authorities to carry out and publish a community impact assessment before any international protection accommodation is established in a locality. O’Callaghan said Sinn Féin had made “perfectly legitimate points of debate” but these could be made by the party’s justice spokesman. It “makes me wonder what’s the political purpose behind this from Sinn Féin”, he said. Sinn Féin and all Opposition parties sharply criticised the lack of time for debate with eight hours last week in a single Dáil committee stage session and four hours on Wednesday night.

Source: The Irish Times February 25, 2026 22:05 UTC