Fine Gael leader’s call for asylum system review marks U-turn from party’s traditional stance
Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has announced the government will seriously consider reviewing Ireland’s immigration policy, marking a significant departure from his party’s traditionally welcoming stance on refugees.
Harris, whose party has historically opposed calls for reducing immigration numbers and increasing deportations, told journalists yesterday that Ireland’s asylum system “is not working well” and requires policy review. The statement came in response to questions about immigration policy following incidents at City West last week.
“Even those who have been proven not to have the right to be here are staying here for a long time as refugees. This must change,” Harris said outside government buildings. “Having to accommodate 20,000 people at the same time is very harmful. This increase needs to be controlled.”
While emphasizing that “Ireland has benefited from immigration” and it “must continue,” Harris acknowledged the current number of immigrants is “very high” and must be taken seriously. He stressed that violence remains “unacceptable” and condemned recent incidents as “plunder.”
Opposition Reactions Divided
The announcement drew mixed reactions from opposition parties, with some welcoming the shift while others accused Harris of political maneuvering.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín mocked Harris’s reversal, while Social Democrats Justice spokesman Gary Gannon argued the real problem was government mishandling of the issue. “The government had failed to provide the necessary resources for the refugee system,” Gannon said, accusing Harris of “blaming asylum seekers for this failure.”
Sinn Féin Justice spokesman Matt Carthy said the government had finally accepted what his party had argued for years—that the international protection system isn’t functioning properly. He criticized the government for taking too long on decisions and failing to carry out deportations effectively, mocking Harris as “the government leader who oversaw all of this and now spoke like a big critic.”
The policy shift represents a notable change for Fine Gael, which has traditionally championed Ireland’s humanitarian obligations toward refugees and asylum seekers.