Government is being urged to “get its house in order” on immigration

The government is being urged to “put its house in order” on immigration.

It comes amid a deepening row with Britain over the return of asylum seekers to Britain.

The Opposition says the Justice Secretary’s claim that 80% of asylum seekers come to Ireland from Britain via the North is inflammatory and cannot be refuted.

Even the Tánaistes questioned the figure, saying it was perspective and not fact.

The incompetence is evident!
The government’s chaotic approach to immigration is reaching another level.

Confusion and contradiction within the government – ​​Justice Minister Helen McEntee says one thing and Tánaiste Micheál Martin another.

Confusion and contradiction between… pic.twitter.com/542qjk3g5y

— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) April 30, 2024

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald grew up in the Dáil today.

“Can you first clarify whether the Minister of Justice or the Tánaiste is factually speaking accurately?”

“By the way, your Tánaiste’s mishandling of this by your government has been a gift to the Tories.”

Both the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary have now come out to defend this figure – saying they are working to close the loophole to send refugees back to Britain if they cross the border.

Taoiseach Simon Harris denied there was any contradiction within the government on the issue:

“It is important that we listen to the men and women working on the IPO at the International Protection Office who tell the minister.”

‘Who then has the good form to tell this House and a committee that they are now seeing a very significant increase in the number of people who have arrived seeking protection and come from Britain?’

“I think it would have been an irresponsible government not to share that.”

But the British government says they won’t take them back, leaving more questions than answers about what will happen next.

Not to mention the refugees at the center of all this are called “returns,” which makes them sound like an unwanted retail item.

The Social Democrats say that these are human lives that should not be used in a political game.