An immigration lawyer has expressed concern about the prospect of Ireland copying some of Britain’s tough asylum reforms given the “dark historical overtones” to the proposals. 

Yesterday, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan declared the Government would have to be "nimble" in response to any change of the law in the United Kingdom. 

The Fianna Fáil TD added that he did not want Ireland to be “viewed more favourably than the UK by those seeking to claim asylum”. 

 On Newstalk Breakfast, Cathal Malone of Thomas Coughan & Co Solicitors said it would be 'depressing' for Ireland to follow Britain’s example. 

“The first sort of worrying thing about all of this is that the UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has come out with all of this last week in England, has been reported to have been inspired by Kristi Noem, who is Trump’s head of ICE,” he explained. 

“So, if Shabana Mahmood’s been inspired by ICE in Trump’s America and we’re being inspired by her, I think that’s pretty depressing.” 

Today, I have set out the most sweeping changes to the asylum system in a generation.

We must restore order and control to our borders.

So we can continue to offer sanctuary to those fleeing danger. pic.twitter.com/VFVBBR0d9q

— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) November 17, 2025

Mr Malone added that even if the Irish Government wanted to do exactly as Britain has proposed, it would not be possible because of European law. 

“That’s because of Brexit, they’re out of the EU, so they’re no longer bound by elements of what’s called the Common European Asylum System, which sets down minimum standards,” he said. 

“Part of the announcement from Shabana Mahmood this week was that because she’s no longer in the EU, she can go a certain distance. 

“That led Nigel Farage saying she should take up membership of the Reform party.” 

Local residents with asylum seekers hold up a banner supporting refugees. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Mr Malone continued that while there has always been a measure of “disparity” across Europe over the years, there have also been “basic minimum standards”. 

“Those are actually being lowered across Europe with what’s being called the [EU Pact on Migration and Asylum] - which is going to come into effect next summer,” he said. 

“So, a lot of what the Minister is announcing was probably on the cards already. 

“But there are a couple of things which have been floated over the past couple of weeks which are very concerning. 

“In the sense, that they don’t relate to what the Minister would regard as ‘spurious asylum claims’. 

“But they relate to reducing the entitlements for people who have been found to be genuine.” 

Gardaí outside asylum seeker accommodation at the Magowna House hotel in Clare. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy.

Currently, an individual granted refugee status in Ireland can apply within 12 months to bring their spouse or children into the Republic under the International Protection Act 2015.

Siblings under the age of 18 are also eligible. 

While Mr Malone believes this “makes a whole pile of sense”, the Government is understood to be considering amending the law. 

“If you’ve escaped from the Taliban in Afghanistan, if you are in danger, then so is your family,” he said. 

“What the Minister is now saying is, ‘You should be required to show that you have a certain amount of money in the bank before you’re allowed to do that.’ 

“But, of course, the difficulty is, we don’t allow people to work until they’ve been waiting for a decision on their asylum claim for six months. 

“Obviously, when people are newly arrived here, their chances of getting a high paying job are quite low.

“So, the idea that you’re going to have your wife and kids sitting in Kabul for an extended period at risk because the Minister wants to look tough is very concerning.” 

Asylum seekers sleeping in tents in Mount Street last year. Picture by: Pic Collins.

Mr Malone added that he does not believe there will be an “appetite” among the public to implement some of the measures the British Government is considering, which he describes as having “very dark historical overtones”. 

“One example this week was that they were saying that they were going to confiscate jewelry from people if they arrived over and they had a necklace or a ring on them,” he said. 

“That could be taken away from them to help with the cost of their asylum accommodation.” 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the large number of asylum applications has resulted in a “severe strain on both our asylum system and our wider social contract”. 

“Our asylum system was not designed to cope with this,” he said. 

“Nor were our rules designed for the situation that sees asylum seekers travelling through multiple safe countries before seeking to cross the English Channel by boat.”

Main image: Split of Jim O'Callaghan and asylum seekers in Dublin. Pictures by: Alamy and Rolling News.