Government’s immigration policy is “performative toughness” claims Gannon

A change to Ireland’s immigration policy, which will force refugees to wait three years before they can seek family reunification, has been dubbed “peformative cruelty” by Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.

Gannon, who serves as the party spokesperson on immigration, said “the government is once again suggesting that refugees are placing unsustainable pressure on our systems, but the facts do not support this claim.”

Gannon said the new measure was an example of “performative toughness instead of effective policy.”

“The proposed changes would amend the current legislation to introduce income, welfare and accommodation requirements for family reunification, meaning people the State has already recognised as refugees could be barred from bringing their families to Ireland simply because they relied on social welfare in their first years of safety.”

He noted “this is not required by Irish law, EU law, or international obligations. It is a political choice, presented as a necessity.”

“Just over 1% of migration to Ireland occurs through family reunification. Restricting this pathway will not create housing, speed up processing, or relieve pressure on public services. It will only keep families apart.”

Gannon noted that the Irish Red Cross, which has reunited families for over 150 years and acts as an auxiliary to the State, has been clear that these proposals would create significant barriers to family unity.

The Irish Red Cross warned that the proposed changes would “do nothing to address the real causes of delay and dysfunction in our protection system.”

“Experts have repeatedly called on the government to retain our current model, reject income and housing thresholds, and focus instead on fixing the administrative backlogs and resourcing failures that have led us here,” Gannon said.

“These proposals must also be viewed in the wider context of the International Protection Bill. Proper pre-legislative scrutiny did not take place. Key stakeholders and expert witnesses were effectively asked to scrutinise empty Heads of Bill with critical details completely absent or unresolved.”

The Dublin Central TD said “family unity is not a loophole – it is a right protected under international humanitarian and human rights law, and it is central to successful integration and social cohesion. Once again, this government is going as far as possible when it comes to being cruel, and doing as little as possible when it comes to being humane.”

“If Ministers were serious about running a fair and efficient system, they would fix it – not fracture families and call it reform.”