Ireland’s Justice Minister has pulled out of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London today, after the Government slapped down their request to return migrants.
Helen McEntee was demanding to meet with Home Secretary James Cleverly today, set to demand Britain take back the illegal migrants flooding into Ireland over fears they could be deported to Rwanda.
However Mr Cleverly made clear he wouldn’t meet with her, amid Government sources flatly rejecting Ireland’s desperate demands.
Ms McEntee has now refused to visit London at all, as Anglo-Irish relations fracture.
Last night Government sources insisted: “We 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.”
In a rare moment of elation for Rishi Sunak, the PM yesterday said that Ireland’s migrant crisis shows that the Rwanda policy is already working.
Asked if the UK is now “exporting” the problem to Ireland, Mr Sunak said his sole focus is on the UK “and securing our borders”.
He argued that the Irish deputy PM’s comments illustrate that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why multiple countries are now following Britain’s lead and looking to create their own Rwanda-style 3rd country partnerships.
Mr Sunak also said it shows “the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact”.
“People are worried about coming here, and that demonstrates exactly what I’m saying.
“If people come to our country illegally and know they won’t be able to stay, they’re much less likely to come and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”
The Government finally passed its flagship Rwanda Bill early this week, and is aiming to see deportation flights start in 10-12 weeks.
A spokesman for the Irish Taoiseach last week said that while they wouldn’t official comment on Britain’s migrant policy, their PM “is very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity of the migration system”.
“Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly,’ the spokesperson said.
“In that context, the Taoiseach has asked the Minister for Justice to bring proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe ‘third countries’ and allowing the return of inadmissible International Protection applicants to the UK.
“This is one of a number of measures we are taking to strengthen our system and ensure that it is strong, effective and agile. Rules and the integrity of our migration system will be to the fore of our actions.”
On Thursday Mr Martin said that Britain’s hardline immigration policy is already “impacting on Ireland” as migrants as “fearful” of staying in the UK.
He added: “Maybe that’s the impact it was designed to have”.
