Ireland is planning an emergency law to send asylum seekers back to Britain

Sign up for our breaking news emails for free real-time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox

Sign up for our free breaking news emails

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris has asked his justice minister to come up with emergency legislation so that Ireland can send asylum seekers back to Britain.

The Taoiseach said Rishi Sunak’s plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda has led to a rise in the number of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic.

And in response, a spokesperson for Mr Harris said the Irish Prime Minister has asked his Justice Minister, Helen McEntee, to “put proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing legislation in relation to the designation of safe ‘third parties’ countries’ and to allow the return of inadmissible international countries. protection applicants to Great Britain”.

In conversation with Irish broadcaster RTÉ’s Six One NewsMs McEntee said: “There are many reasons why we have seen an increase in migration to Ireland.

“I will have emergency legislation in Cabinet this week to ensure we can effectively return people to Britain and so I will be meeting with the Home Secretary (James Cleverly) on Monday to raise these issues .”

Rishi Sunak has said claims that Britain’s Rwanda plan is causing an influx of migrants to Ireland show that the deterrent effect is working.

When asked about the claim, the Prime Minister said Sky News his focus was on the United Kingdom.

But he added: “What this comment illustrates is a few things. Firstly, that illegal migration is a global challenge, and that’s why you’re seeing several countries talking about partnerships with third countries, looking at new ways to solve this problem, and I think this will follow where Britain has led.

“But what I think it also shows is that the deterrent according to your comment is already having an effect because people are worried about coming here.”

The Irish government claimed that the number of migrants crossing from Northern Ireland in recent months was ‘more than 80 percent’.

Under the Rwanda Bill, asylum seekers coming to Britain risk being sent on a one-way flight to the East African country, with the aim of stopping others from crossing the English Channel on small boats.

Northern Ireland Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said she had not been contacted about planned legislation on asylum seekers coming to Ireland from Britain.

“I am the First Minister in the North and I have not heard from the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste or the Justice Secretary,” she said in Dublin on Sunday.

“To me this highlights, perhaps even underlines, how disorganized they are in dealing with this issue.

“Policy responsibility for migration and immigration rests with the UK government. I am aware that Helen McEntee (Home Secretary) will meet James Cleverly over the next 24 to 36 hours.

Ms O’Neill was speaking at the launch of the party’s local, European and Limerick mayoral election campaign in Dublin.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was also at the event, argued that cross-border migration means Ireland must reject a recently unveiled overhaul of EU legislation on migration and asylum.

“We need a plan that is adequately resourced and implemented to tackle this problem,” Ms McDonald said on Sunday.

Mr Harris said greater cooperation will be needed between police forces in Ireland and Northern Ireland on migration. He said Ireland has no intention of allowing Ireland to “provide a loophole for someone else’s migration problems”.

“Every country is entitled to its own migration policy, but I certainly have no intention of allowing anyone else’s migration policy to undermine the integrity of our own policy,” he said in Co Monaghan on Sunday.

“This country will in no way provide a loophole for someone else’s migration problems. That’s very clear. Other countries can decide how they want to promote migration.

“From an Irish perspective, we intend to have a robust rules-based system where rules apply, where rules are in force and where rules are seen to be enforced.

“My colleague, the Minister of Justice, will now submit legislative proposals to the Cabinet on Tuesday that will attempt to introduce a new return policy.

“We are awaiting the full details of that, but it is one that will effectively allow people to be sent back to Britain. And I think that’s very appropriate. It was always the intention.

“It is very important with migration and with the challenge that migration brings in so many countries, that you can be agile and respond quickly to issues that arise.”