Good Friday Committee to discuss the impact of the UK’s Illegal Immigration Act on the Good Friday Agreement with Amnesty International

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Fergus O’Dowd said: “We welcome the opportunity to hear from Amnesty International on the Illegal Immigration Act and its impact on the Good Friday Agreement.”

The Act, which received royal assent in July, provides that those who arrive in the UK irregularly will be detained and then removed, either to their home country or a third country.”

“Amnesty International has repeatedly advised parliamentarians that the proposals contained in the Act were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Convention and other international standards and human rights organisations have said the Act is not compliant with international human rights law.”

“The Good Friday Agreement commits to ensuring the equivalence of rights on the island of Ireland and concerns have been raised that the Act increases divergence of rights on the island. We look forward to discussing Amnesty’s concerns around the Act and other related matters.”

Watch the meeting live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.