Ireland is seeking to amend its law to enable the return of asylum seekers to the United Kingdom, as reported by RTE. This initiative comes in response to an influx of asylum seekers crossing the border from Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee, during a visit to London, estimated that 80% of asylum applications in the Republic came through the land border with Northern Ireland. This move reflects the effectiveness of London’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as a deterrent, according to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who spoke with Sky News.
In contrast, a spokesperson for Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of Ireland’s immigration system, stating that Ireland has a rule-based system that must always be firmly and fairly applied. The Irish Prime Minister has instructed the Minister of Justice to propose amendments to the existing law regarding the designation of a “safe third country” and the return of rejected international protection applicants to the UK.
Justice Minister McEntee is set to discuss the new repatriation policy with British Home Secretary James Cleverly in London. The UK’s Rwanda bill, which aims to prevent asylum seekers from reaching the UK by small boats across the North Sea, has recently passed its final parliamentary hurdle after prolonged disputes between the House of Commons and the Lords.
