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Updated at 3.45pm
(Second Row, left to right) John Bruton, Sally Mulready, Michael Farrell, Catherine McGuinness, Ronan C Keane, John Murray, Deirdre Heenan, Bertie Ahern, Ruairí McKiernan, Gerard Quinn, Brian Cowen. (First row, left to right) Paddy Burke, Sean Barrett, Joan Burton, Enda Kenny, President Michael D Higgins, Susan Denham, Peter Kelly, Maire Whelan, Mary McAleese
PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins held a Council of State meeting this morning over asylum legislation that was ‘rushed’ through the Dáil before Christmas.
A Council of State meeting allows the president to refer legislation to the Supreme Court for scrutiny, following a meeting with a number of officials including the Taoiseach, the President of the High Court, and the Attorney General, along with anyone who has previously held the position of President, Taoiseach or Chief Justice, and several appointed members.
It is only the second time Higgins has invoked Article 26 of the Constitution since taking office.
Concerns were raised over the International Protection Bill, designed to reduce the length of time asylum applicants spend in the protection process, including direct provision, by establishing a single applications procedure.
Under the new law, there would be a single application procedure for protection which would include applications for refugee status, subsidiary protection and leave to remain.
The meeting concluded this afternoon and Higgins said he will make a decision on whether to refer the Bill to the Supreme Court in the next 24 hours.
He also thanked the members of the council for their time.
Labour backbencher Michael McNamara was kicked out of the Dáil over his objections to the guillotining of the Bill, and said it restricts the ability of people fleeing persecution to be joined by family members.
In a statement last week, Sinn Féin said the Bill fails to protect children and minors travelling alone and opens the door for fast-track deportations, with Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh describing it as “baffling” that so many recommendations of the government’s own working group were ignored. He added:
We were also alarmed that the democratic procedures required for effective scrutiny of legislation were ignored in the speed with which this bill was rushed through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
It was also jointly opposed by the Irish Refugee Council, the Irish Immigrant Support centre (Nasc), and refugee support group Doras Luimní.
Sue Conlan, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, said: “A single procedure will not cure the problems in the Irish asylum system unless there are proper safeguards in place which protect asylum seekers from cursory examination of their applications and a swift move towards deportation.”
The outcome of passage of the Bill, as it stands, will lead to people being at risk of being returned to persecution or serious harm and refugees separated from family members.
“This will be at the time of the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War.”
In a statement, the Áras said the particular sections of concern in the legislation are:
Originally published 8.08am. Additional reporting by Hugh O’Connell
Another great gone, RIP George
@Lance Taylor: must give that a watch today.
Rip George, I might grill a few sausages for breakfast, in your honor.
@brian o’leary: sausage egg bacon cheese and mushrooms all place in a baguette then pressed in the Georgie! Yes sireeee
Down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier!! Get chills when I think how easily Foreman beat prime Joe Frazier, who himself had beaten Ali and was thought unbeatable! Absolute legend of the sport!
Sad news, great boxer and a great guy by all accounts.
Tough as nails, rest in peace sir.
Watch ‘When We Were Kings’. The days when the title ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ actually meant something.
@Me Me: “Champions forever” is a little older but a hell of a watch too. Probably on YouTube
@Me Me: that’s one of the greatest sport documentaries ever
Any man that beats Joe Frazier twice is some man! To come back from Zaire the way he did was inspirational, and to win a world title 17 years after that was the stuff of fairytale. RIP George, one of the very best.
A great guy. RIP.
A true legend. Both in and out of the ring. RIP
I remember watching the Moorer fight, he was 20 years younger than George and had an unbeaten record, but still ended up on the deck.
Good old George great boxer and a gentleman many a toastie I had on your machine, lovely man
R. I. P. Champ.
I watched a film about his life on Netflix recently. RIP
Rest in Peace… True Legend
Poor children of Gaza. Ethnic cleansing before our eyes. Same on us as human race. History repeating!
@Brian O’Connor:
Shame on you for using the death of a boxing legend to make a political statement.
@Brian O’Connor: take a day off Brian, this is about a boxing legend not your soapbox.
Ah no absolute savage in the ring pure humble gentleman outside it . If I remember correctly won his last heavyweight title in his forties against shannon briggs. Another legend gone, RIP big man.
RIP Big George. Thank you for the memories. Sleep well.
And yes RIP George. Hopefully now looking down and put stop to killing of innocent civilians in Gaza, Ukraine, Russia and many innocents of Africa. What has this world come to. Anne Frank doesn’t need a diary .. she needs a phone . I wonder has anyone read her book. Has anyone read “my struggle” by that evil man, it’s so ironic ! I see it both ways and what’s going on now is devils holocaust without the fire. the most ….. that suffered now put their suffering on .,.,,, Jesus weeps today. It’s a shame if a true American president of peace was true he/she would call a halt now to death of innocent children. Shame on US saying soldiers killed on open fields but not a word of children born and unborn laying dead in mothers arms or dying in mothers womb because the vessel has died. I am for freedom and protection. Same on us as a world of supposing humanity. Same on us. As da Vinci said “I open my arms, my legs for world all to see, only you can draw perfection or imperfection” same on us as a human race. A world of love is needed right now ! Has there ever been a time in history of love.? I think Anne Frank is hoping some day.
@Brian O’Connor: time and a place{champ}
@Brian O’Connor:
Jesus Christ , is nothing sacred.
You forgot about the innocent people murdered by Hamas.
@Phillip Smyth: Normally I’d agree however try reading the article from a bit earlier labelled Palestine, a report from an English doctor at an A&E during the recent attack by Israelis…deeply disturbing! Needs to get highlighted everywhere at every opportunity.
@damien leen:
Rest in peace George Foreman.
@Thomas O’Brien: So you condone this response by Israel? This is Genocide you absolute muppet. These people are being bombed out of existence. They were dumped into Gaza, described by outsiders as an open air prison after they had their lands illegally taken off them & and when they fight back this is what happens!
You are Irish yes? Do you have any clue of Irish history?! Armed resistance, armed struggle…
@Brian O’Connor: wtf is actually wrong with you? Are you related to Sinead, the header of this low grade rag?
@damien leen:
7th of October ring a bell.
@damien leen: so normally you don’t agree when legends die to highlight your platform, so your selfish and foolhardy.
@Phillip Smyth: Toughen up a bit you child!
Poor ol’ George. He was one of the good guys. RIP.
Ahh bless him!. I’ll always have a little piece of him in my kitchen ….rest in peace George ps thanks for the yummy toasties!!
What a loss such a legend, RIP
Remember watching him win the world title at 45. I thought 45 was so ancient. 47 year old me regrets such thoughts
Oh what a boxer ,thanks for all the memories, and love and respect to your family and friends
Rumble in the Jungle. I will.never forget it. RIP Sir. Say hello to Mo when you get there.
@Oh Mammy: Muslims can’t get into christian heaven, apparently.
An icon of the sport.. Rest easy George.. A true legend and gentleman. Followed his career and interacted with him on Twitter .. feels like I knew him personally.
What a great great man..Rest in Eternal Peace.
R.I.P. George.Another Legend Gone.
God love anyone trying to trace that family tree in the future.
5 sons, all named George.
A brick wall for future family historians
A Boxing colossus that returned to the ring in his 40’s to win it again. Truly amazing. RIP.
Would have reigned for 10 years if not for ali
I actually think that George Foreman was the greatest boxer to ever step into the ring. His granite chin was simply unmatched and he had the most powerful punch out of any of the big boxers. To retire and then come back to become the heavyweight champion at 45 showed this. Foreman demolished every fighter that he came up against and had a reputation for being one of the most decent and kind individuals in professional sport. I’m also indebted to him for the Foreman Grill, it really helped me lose weight. RIP George Foreman, you will be missed.
A brilliant man George inside and outside the ring what he did for the young people in Texas with a hard upbringing was inspiring, that is why George came back to boxing in the eighties to help them because what money he had made was gone. A legend rip George you will be sparring with Ali and Fraser in heaven
@Kieran Horgan: Ali was a Muslim who rejected jesus . Can he get into christian heaven?
A fantastic athlete. Just a question, how did he name his daughters? Georgina?
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