Sinn Féin slams government ‘incompetence’ on immigration as Taoiseach denies coalition conflict

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said the government had made a complete mess of the situation in recent days, with a “chaotic approach” and no plan to get a handle on the influx.

There was confusion between Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Justice Minister Helen McEntee, which had spread to the government and the UK government over whether or not there was an agreement for the readmission of asylum seekers who had been denied the right to remain here , she said.

However, Taoiseach Simon Harris said there was an agreement, as confirmed by Downing Street today, and that the Justice Secretary had received Cabinet approval to introduce emergency legislation.

He would bring it in before the end of May, he indicated.

“This is just one of many measures we are taking to ensure we approach this issue from all angles,” he said.

There were ten countries on the safe list, including Nigeria, he said, noting that Nigerians are now the most prominent nationality seeking asylum in the Republic.

Mr Harris said the Common Travel Area coordination group between the two governments would meet next week in any case, and he welcomed that.

On the 80 per cent figure, Mr Harris said such information had been shared with the Minister by its officials, and she in turn had offered it responsibly.

There was a “very significant increase” in the number of people coming from Britain to the International Protection Office, he said.

But Ms McDonald said the Tánaiste’s comments were “a gift” to Britain’s Tories.

Mr Harris replied that he was concerned that this country should not become a pawn in any politics in Britain.

The Tánaiste did not contradict what the minister had said, which was based on what was said to her, he said.

Labor leader Ivana Bacik said disinformation characterized the debate and that the government had no control over the situation. The justice minister was forced to rely on anecdotes, she said, without clear data.

She said it was a scandal that Baggot Street Hospital was standing still while there was a tent city on nearby Mount Street, she said, adding that she had visited that location today.

“We cannot force Britain to take back immigrants we would reject,” she said.

If the Rwanda policy was fundamentally incompatible with international human rights law, even though it was now the law in Britain, then there was no way to repatriate anyone to Britain, she said.

“We do have data, and we collect data,” Mr. Harris said, “but we don’t count the people coming across the border.”

“But very experienced staff are conducting interviews (at the IPO office) and telling the government that the majority are now from Britain.”

The Taoiseach said people were becoming frustrated because they wanted to help those in need, but they also wanted to know a rules-based system was in place.