Ireland to change status of UK to ‘Safe’ for asylum seekers by the end of the month
The justice minister received approval on Tuesday to draft new legislation in response to the High Court’s ruling that Ireland’s previous designation of the UK as ‘safe’ was unlawful.
Ireland intends to pass legislation by the end of the month to reclassify the UK as a “safe” country for asylum seekers, allowing the return of inadmissible asylum seekers who entered Ireland from the UK.
This decision follows the High Court’s ruling that Ireland’s designation of the UK as a “safe third country” due to Brexit was unlawful under EU law. Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Micheal Martin also raised concerns about the influx of asylum seekers into Ireland from the UK, the only EU country sharing a land border with it.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris announced that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has been granted permission to draft legislation, with intentions to enact it by the end of the month. The legislation will address the issues highlighted by the High Court earlier this year, supported by the attorney general and the government.
Responding to concerns about Rwanda, Mr. Harris emphasized the importance of enforcing rules while disassociating the government from the UK’s deportation policy. He stressed the necessity of a rules-based migration system in the country.
Ms. McEntee emphasized the need for mechanisms to return individuals to the UK to prevent abuse of the Common Travel Area (CTA).
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As part of the UK and Ireland’s Common Travel Area, citizens can freely move between the two countries with reciprocal benefits and privileges.
After Brexit, the two countries have a non-binding agreement for returning illegal immigrants to one another, but the process has faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and legal challenges.
Mr. Harris previously urged London to honor the agreement, and the UK has expressed support for Ireland’s legislative plans to resume returning asylum seekers. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak raised doubts about the arrangement, stating that he would not accept the return of asylum seekers through Ireland from the EU.
In criticism of the government’s strategy, Labour TD Ivana Bacik accused the Irish government of attempting to implement the Rwanda scheme on its own, highlighting the importance of a willing safe third country for asylum seekers.
Ms. Bacik argued that designating the UK as safe while its Rwanda policy remains in place is contradictory.
The UK’s Rwanda bill became law on April 25, establishing the East African country as a safe third country for relocating illegal immigrants from the UK. The government plans to initiate the first flight by July to remove illegal immigrants ineligible for asylum since March 7, 2023, under the Illegal Migration Act 2023.
A separate scheme for the voluntary relocation of individuals with no right to remain in the UK to Rwanda has started, with the first failed asylum seeker being flown out on Monday.
In a statement, the Home Office affirmed, “We can now relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda under our migration and economic development partnership, providing support for their resettlement in a safe third country.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
