Irish and British ministers have delayed their planned talks over rising tensions regarding the UK’s policies on migrants, specifically those seeking asylum in the UK. The Irish government has seen a recent increase in asylum seekers arriving from Northern Ireland, with many coming due to fears of being sent to Rwanda. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris has stated that he will not allow the UK’s policies to impact Ireland’s integrity and will not allow their country to be used as a “loophole.” The UK, in turn, has stated that they will not accept the migrants back until they see a change in the EU’s stance on returning migrants to France.
The UK’s approach towards asylum seekers has been controversial in recent years, with many migrants making the perilous journey across the English Channel in small boats from France. The UK government approved a policy that would deport people to Rwanda and give them an option to claim asylum there. The government has stated that they plan to have the first flights take off within the next three months. However, the Irish High Court ruled that Ireland could not designate the UK as a “safe third country” due to the threat of being sent to Rwanda, sparking concerns that migrants would enter Ireland to gain entry to the UK.
The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, established under the Good Friday Agreement, brings together Irish and British ministers to discuss issues of mutual interest and will be co-chaired by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. Talks between the UK Home Secretary and Irish Justice Minister were due to take place earlier but were postponed, and details regarding their rescheduling have not been announced.
The two governments’ conflict over migration policies could further impede relationships that have been strained since Brexit. It remains uncertain how the two countries will resolve the disagreement, which could have implications for the EU’s migration policies
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