Tensions rise between UK and Ireland over immigration

Attempts to handle the unprecedented levels of immigration have this week prompted diplomatic tensions between Ireland and the UK. Looming general elections on either side of the Irish Sea means that there has been considerable political jockeying on the issue, which perception polling indicates will be top of mind for voters.

Responding to a line of questioning from Clare Independent TD – and MEP candidate for Ireland South ­– Michael McNamara, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee claimed that 80 per cent of those applying for asylum in Ireland were entering through the land Border with Northern Ireland. This suggestion was criticised by human rights organisations, opposition politicians in Ireland and the UK government. While McEntee has adamantly stood by this figure, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin stated that it is not based on data, evidence or statistics. 

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative party have been seeking to reap the benefits of the controversy. He insisted that the influx of asylum seekers into Ireland is evidence that his Rwanda policy is working. While it is a near certainty that the Conservatives will be shunted from office following the next general election, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was undoubtedly correct in her assertion that being afforded the opportunity to display its toughness on migration policy is a “gift to the Tories”. It is well documented that concern about immigration was one of the main drivers of the Brexit campaign’s success. Despite the Conservatives consistently trailing Labour by 20 per cent in opinion polls, a majority of the British public tends to be supportive of a harder line on immigration. 

Channelling concerns around immigration for political benefit is not unique to the UK, of course. Successive opinion polls have shown that this will be the predominant issue for voters in Ireland in the upcoming elections, ahead, even, of housing. Despite being relatively late entrants into the field, Ciaran Mullooly and Niall Boylan – standing for Independent Ireland in Midlands-North-West and Dublin respectively – have both been gathering momentum as a result of rising tensions over immigration. 

In an attempt to combat this, the Irish government – and Fine Gael in particular – has sought to recalibrate its stance. Taoiseach Simon Harris said Ireland will not “provide a loophole” for any other country’s migration challenges. Emergency legislative proposals were brought to Cabinet in Ireland this week. These are targeted at stemming the tide of illegal immigration into Ireland from across the Irish Sea. The Irish government says that this will allow an “operational agreement” between Ireland and the UK on the return of asylum seekers to come into force, enabling Ireland to send asylum seekers who come over the border back to the UK. However, Sunak has maintained that UK authorities will not be accepting the return of asylum seekers. This impasse is likely to persist for the short term at least, affording opposition parties ample opportunity to continue to criticise the government on immigration.