Surge in asylum claims in Ireland discussed during talks in London
British and Irish ministers held talks yesterday amid claims that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda scheme is diverting asylum seekers to Ireland.
Recent figures show that, due to a shift in migration patterns, more than 80 per cent of people applying for asylum in Ireland are crossing the land border with Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Micheal Martin met in London to discuss the possibility of returning the asylum seekers to Britain.
After the meeting, Mr Heaton-Harris suggested the issue of asylum seekers entering Ireland was an indication that the Rwanda scheme was already working.
“The UK’s new deterrent is clearly working and having some impact already,” he said. “And the impact will obviously increase as the first flights take off for Rwanda.
“We will obviously monitor all this very closely and continue to work with the Irish government on these matters.”
Mr Heaton-Harris said while the deterrent effect of the Rwanda scheme was expected, “we are slightly surprised that it manifested itself so quickly after the act became law”.
Police yesterday began to detain asylum seekers identified for deportation to Rwanda, weeks earlier than planned, The Guardian reported.
Tomorrow, Irish ministers are expected to discuss the emergency legislation under which asylum seekers would be returned to Britain.
The legislation is being drafted in response to an Irish High Court ruling that designating Britain as a “safe third country” for returning asylum seekers was contrary to EU law. “I will seek government approval for the legislation to be rapidly drafted so the UK can again be designated as a safe country for returns,” Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee said.
“My department has been working on this as a priority since last month’s High Court judgment and I intend that returns to the UK will recommence once the law is enacted.”
Mr Heaton-Harris said he was “comfortable” with the Irish government’s proposed legislation, which he said was just resetting the legal position.
Yesterday, British Work and Pensions Minister Mel Stride said: “We are already seeing the early signs of the deterrent effect, which the whole purpose of the Rwanda bill and Rwanda approach is about.
“What we are seeing in this case is people leaving the UK and going to the Republic of Ireland.
“I very much doubt we are going to end up in a position where we will be taking anybody back, not least because of course when it comes to France, another EU country, they are not in the business of taking illegal migrants who come here back, either.”
A source in the British government said Westminster “won’t accept any asylum returns from the EU via Ireland until the EU accepts that we can send them back to France”.
“We are fully focused on operationalising our Rwanda scheme and will continue working with the French to stop the boats from crossing the Channel,” the source added.
More than 7,000 people have crossed the Channel to Britain in small boats since January 1, Home Office figures show.
Labour’s shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said the data shows that the Rwanda scheme is failing. “This is the blunt reality behind all of Rishi Sunak’s empty boasts,” he said.
“More people have arrived by small boats so far this year than ever before and more people are having to be rescued.
“What will it take for Rishi Sunak to wake up and realise that his plan is not working?”