The Taoiseach of Ireland has announced that a growing number of asylum seekers are entering the country through its Northern border since the government imposed stricter checks on incoming asylum seekers via aircraft. The announcement has raised concerns about the efficiency of the Irish border security system and sparked debates over the potential implications for Ireland’s migration policies. In this article, we delve into the details of the Taoiseach’s statement and explore the possible implications of this development on Ireland’s international commitments to asylum seekers, its relationship with its Northern neighbor, and the future of its border policies.
There has been an increase in the number of people coming from across the Northern Irish border seeking international protection in the Republic of Ireland, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. However, he reiterated his rejection of border checks and stated that both Ireland and Britain must work together to maintain the Common Travel Area whilst restricting illegal migration in both islands.
Whilst in Washington this week ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, Varadkar stated that he had met with the Garda National Bureau of Immigration and the border control unit in recent weeks to discuss how border controls could be improved. When asked if the majority of international protection (IP) applicants were crossing the border, he admitted that this was not known for certain, pointing out that individuals could also arrive at Irish airports and seaports.
Varadkar noted that there was evidence from the Gardaí that checks on passengers arriving on planes had reduced the number of those arriving at Dublin airport, and led to an increase in the numbers arriving over the Northern Irish border. He emphasised that whilst the problem applied to both directions, it was necessary to maintain the Common Travel Area, meaning that the two countries needed to cooperate on this issue.
The Taoiseach explained that the UK’s policies and approach to migration had an impact on Ireland. Therefore, both countries needed to work together to regulate illegal migration, a process that has complicated statistics, particularly as a lot of it is done in clandestine mode, making it difficult to get accurate data. Varadkar underlined the centrality of the Common Travel Area and described it as a “very valuable to us”, but urged caution that it should be preserved without undermining each country’s independent migration policies.
Regarding the problem of human trafficking, Varadkar acknowledged the wrongness of such activity, describing it as an illegal industry that was not only harmful but also immoral. He added that people trafficking represents a severely detrimental form of exploitation that needs to be tackled by both countries through concerted joint efforts. When he was asked about the British legislation banning asylum claims from small boats or dinghies, he said that he understood what other Mediterranean countries were doing but that the issue was not prevalent in Ireland.
Overall, the Taoiseach’s emphasis on continued cooperation with the UK, and especially on protecting the Common Travel Area, is a clear message that the two governments must work together to promote mutual trust and shared goals in the regulation of illegal migration.
