Jim O’Callaghan made the comment after the UK Home Secretary announced sweeping changes designed to reduce the UK’s attractiveness to asylum seekers. Mr O’Callaghan said they could result in changes to the flow of asylum seekers between the UK and Ireland. In a statement on Tuesday, he said: “I am committed to ensuring that Ireland is not viewed more favourably than the UK by those seeking to claim asylum. Among the UK measures there will be no automatic right to family reunion for refugees under core protection. Mr O’Callaghan said he had directed a review of Ireland’s rules on family reunification before the changes announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Source: The Times November 17, 2025 18:44 UTC