More than eight in ten asylum seekers in the Republic of Ireland have crossed into the country from Northern Ireland, a minister in the Republic’s government has claimed.
Some asylum seekers have reportedly been left sleeping in tents amid a rise in the number of migrants arriving in Ireland coupled with housing crisis.
Justice minister Helen McEntee told a scrutiny committee in the Irish Parliament that migrants and refugees were crossing the border with Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the Oireachtas committee on Tuesday, Ms McEntee claimed that more than 80 per cent of people seeking asylum here entered the country through the North.
‘I’d say it’s higher than 80 per cent,’ she said, in response to questions from Fianna Fáil senator Robbie Gallagher. ‘That’s particularly worrying,’ he responded.
More than eight in ten asylum seekers in the Republic of Ireland have crossed into the country from Northern Ireland, the Republic’s justice minister Helen McEntee (pictured) has claimed
A road sign at a roundabout on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with directions to Belfast and Dublin in Carrickcarnan, Ireland
The UK shares a Common Travel Area with Ireland, which was first implemented in 1923, well before either country joined the EU which has its own freedom of movement rules.
Border infrastructure between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been reduced since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement more than a quarter of a century ago.
The minister said that her department liaises with the UK authorities on this issue, and that An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland also cooperate.
It is understood she will meet with UK home secretary James Cleverly next week to discuss the issue. Senior Government sources have pointed to significant challenges in returning people to the UK.
‘It is easier for the State to deport someone to Nigeria than to United Kingdom,’ they said.
Speaking at the Oireachtas Finance Committee yesterday, Taoiseach Simon Harris has acknowledged that the Government must ‘do more’ to stem the flow of asylum seekers from the North.
The Fine Gael leader said that this wasn’t always the way, adding: ‘In fact, this is a relatively recent-month phenomenon.’
Dublin made clear during Brexit negotiations that the border on the island of Ireland should remain ‘invisible’ to protect the peace brought about by the Good Friday Agreement and Ireland’s place within the EU Single Market.
A Department of Justice source told The Irish Times that it was hard to get an exact figure for the numbers crossing from the North, but that more than 80 per cent of asylum claims had been made at Dublin’s International Protection Office without a prior application at a port or airport, indicating a land crossing.
It is thought by the Irish Government that the vast majority of these asylum seekers came from the UK and a large number are thought to be from Nigeria.
Ireland does have an agreement with the United Kingdom which allows the country to return migrants with refugee status.
The UK is not a safe place to return asylum seekers due to the risk they may be deported to Rwanda, the Irish High Court ruled last night
It follows a ruling by the Irish High Court in March this year that the UK should not have been designated a safe country to return asylum seekers to, amid fears of their onward deportation to Rwanda. Ms McEntee is understood to be progressing new legislation to make facilitating deportations to the UK more functional.
The ruling risked sparking a full-blown diplomatic row as the British Government said at the time it ‘entirely refuted’ the court’s conclusion. One UK Home Office source added: ‘This is absolutely absurd.’
The decision by Judge Siobhán Phelan related to Irish ministers’ 2020 decision – in the wake of Brexit – to designate the UK as a ‘safe third country’ under the country’s International Protection Act.
However, she said it was not necessary for her ‘at this time’ to decide if the UK could be considered safe for asylum applicants.
Irish legislation scrutinised during the court case allows ministers to reject humanitarian claims if the applicant has travelled from the UK.
The UK Government said of the decision: ‘We entirely refute the notion that our partnership with Rwanda makes the UK an unsafe country.
‘We also make no apology for pursuing bold solutions to stop illegal migration, dismantle the people smuggling gangs and save lives.
‘We have worked closely with the Rwandan government to address the Supreme Court’s findings, including through our Safety of Rwanda Bill.
‘This makes it absolutely clear in UK law that Rwanda is a safe country.’
