Ireland is "at risk" of immigration pressure and will not accept more immigrants,

Immigration Ireland will not accept any more migrants under the new EU relocation scheme, with the EU having decided that Ireland is "at risk" of migration pressure, Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has confirmed.

Ireland will not accept any more migrants under the new EU relocation programme, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has announced. This is because the EU has decided that Ireland is "at risk" of migration pressure. A 'Solidarity Pool', a new EU mechanism under the Treaty on Migration and Asylum, was decided by EU justice and home affairs ministers in Brussels today. 

This will provide more support to countries facing migration pressure. This means that member states must accept individuals from other EU countries facing large numbers of migrants for screening. Instead, countries can pay into a common migration fund to help ease the pressure. Minister O'Callaghan announced today that Ireland will not participate in the resettlement programme and will instead provide €9.26 million in 2027 to support countries facing the most severe pressure. 

The EU has recognised that Ireland is vulnerable to migration pressures and will therefore be given priority access to the EU Migration Support Toolbox. This offers operational and technical support from EU bodies, offices and agencies. It also includes financial support to facilitate return and reintegration activities. 

Speaking about the new system, the Justice Minister said: “The number of applications for international protection has continued to rise, and the influx of people benefiting from temporary protection has also put pressure on our systems, as recognised by the European Commission. “As a result of the agreement reached today, Member States have the option of accepting relocations from countries experiencing high migratory pressure or providing financial support. Given the pressures on our system, Ireland will not accept relocations, but will provide €9.26 million in 2027 as a pledge to support countries under the highest pressure.”

Other measures agreed by ministers in Brussels include a new return system for migrants staying illegally in the EU, a move to establish a list of safe countries of origin, and a proposal to update the grounds for designating a country as a safe third country.