Politics watch: Migration, housing back in spotlight
James Cox
Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.
Government 'trying to minimise migration problem', O'Gorman says
Former Integration minister Roderic O'Gorman has criticised the Government over what he feels is an attempt to "minimise" the migration problem.
Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman served as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth from 2020 to 2025.
Migration was among his many responsibilities during that period. The Government has now created a new junior ministry, with Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy named Minister of State for Migration.
He will share responsibility for migration with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, whose full title is 'Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration'.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Mr O'Gorman said: "It struck me as if the Government, by minimising the role, they were going to minimise the problem that migration could cause this government. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that.
"It's almost as if nothing has been learned by the last three years when we all know that migration, particularly providing accommodation for those in the international protection system, was such a significant political issue.
"I wish Minister O'Callaghan and particularly Minister Brophy well, I feel that Minister Brophy has been kind of dropped in the hot seat here in terms of being given the political responsibility for this issue but without the heft that being a senior minister gives to a politician.
"As challenging as I found migration as a senior minister, I could go directly to the various agencies whether it was the HSE or the OPW when there were issues. I could challenge other government departments, whether it was the Department of Housing or the Department of Justice, I could challenge them directly at Cabinet meetings or in Cabinet subcommittees.
"Having that access, particularly access to the Taoiseach, is really important."
Mr O'Gorman also said there is a lack of planning on accommodation for international protection applicants in the programme for government.
O’Callaghan: More than 80% of applications for international protection rejected
On Sunday, the same day as the interview with Roderic O'Gorman was published, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said more than 80 per cent of applications for international protection were rejected in January.
Mr O’Callaghan said that “too many people” are coming to Ireland seeking international protection who are not entitled to it.
Last year, 14,000 applications were processed and, at first instance, more than 65 per cent were rejected, according to the Fianna Fáil minister.
His department projects that some 15,000 people will arrive in Ireland this year seeking asylum.
“In terms of the issue, we need to focus on the fact, and I’ve to be straight with the Irish people, too many people are coming to Ireland seeking international protection who are not entitled to international protection,” he told RTÉ’s This Week programme.
“Last year, 14,000 applications were processed and, at first instance, over 65 per cent were rejected.
“This year, already, in January, over 80 per cent of applications were rejected at first instance.
“I have to be honest with people and say that we have a situation where there are too many people seeking international protection who are not entitled to it, and the people who are really suffering from that, of course, are the people who are legitimately entitled to claim it, who may not be provided with accommodation because of the numbers that are coming in.
“So, that’s an area I’m not going to shy away from stating. But, in order for it to be given effect, we have to have a procedure which recognises that if you come in and you’re granted international protection, you stay, you’re welcome.
“If you come in and you refuse international protection, you leave, you’re gone.”
O'Gorman labels programme for government 'deeply underwhelming'
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Mr O'Gorman said the new programme for government is "deeply underwhelming", and that he believes it is partly down to the influence of "right-wing" Regional Independent TDs.
"During the election campaign I raised my real concern that we would see a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael government propped up by right-wing Independents, I said it on a number of occasions particularly in the last week [of campaigning].
"That is exactly what has happened, you see it in the lack of ambition in the programme for government in a huge range of areas, whether it's in the area of climate, childcare, supports for families... it is a deeply underwhelming programme for government."
Special Cabinet meeting on housing
A special Cabinet meeting on housing will look at and consider “all different actions” and policy options, the Government’s chief whip has said.
Mary Butler said that investors will have to help plug the gap in funding to meet the Government’s target of building 60,000 homes a year.
Ministers are expected to gather on Monday for a special cabinet committee meeting on housing.
It comes as the Government is under further pressure to ramp up the number of new builds after figures from the Central Statistics Office revealed that just over 30,000 new homes were completed last year, far short of the projected 40,000.
Abroad
In the US, Donald Trump continues to issue executive orders at a frantic pace. He also scored a victory this week as Robert F Kennedy Jr was confirmed as US secretary of health and human services.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has fully endorsed Israel’s war aims in the Gaza Strip, saying Hamas “must be eradicated” and throwing the future of the shaky ceasefire into further doubt.
He met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday at the start of a regional tour.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer is poised to join European leaders at an emergency summit on Monday, as they consider how to respond to US president Donald Trump’s push for an end to the Ukraine war.
