The International Protection Act 2026 modernises Ireland’s asylum framework to implement the 2024 EU asylum, reception, qualification, Eurodac and asylum/migration‑management instruments. The Minister is designated as Determining Authority; Eurodac and structured screening are established; and the Act sets out registration, lodgement and examination procedures, reception conditions, allocation of accommodation and proportional limits on restrictions and detention. It creates special procedures (accelerated and asylum‑border), prescribes admissibility and merit grounds, and imposes statutory timeframes for decisions and appeals.

The Act creates a specialised Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals and an independent Chief Inspector for asylum‑border procedures, strengthens safeguards for unaccompanied minors (representation, age assessment, best‑interests duties), and provides for family reunification, travel documents, temporary protection and resettlement. It also regulates data‑sharing, Eurodac use, criminal offences (eg. document fraud), and detailed processes for withdrawal of protection, voluntary return and enforced return decisions with appeal rights.