What's happened
Ireland has approved a plan to designate the UK as a 'safe country' for asylum seekers, aiming to address the influx of refugees entering Ireland due to the UK's Rwanda deportation policy. The proposal comes after a recent High Court ruling deemed Ireland's designation of the UK as a safe third country unlawful. The move has sparked tensions between the two nations as Ireland seeks to send asylum seekers back to the UK, a decision rejected by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Why it matters
The Irish government's decision to redesignate the UK as a 'safe country' for asylum seekers has significant implications for both countries. The move aims to address the rise in asylum claims in Ireland attributed to the UK's controversial Rwanda deportation policy. Tensions between Ireland and the UK have escalated as Ireland seeks to return asylum seekers to the UK, a move rejected by British officials, highlighting the complexities of asylum policies and cross-border cooperation in Europe.
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Ireland's plan to return asylum seekers to the UK has drawn objections from human rights groups and British courts, triggering a clash between the two nations. The BBC reports that the Irish government attributes the increase in asylum claims to the UK's Rwanda policy, prompting the drafting of emergency legislation. The Independent highlights the meeting between British and Irish officials as tensions rise over the movement of asylum seekers and Ireland's proposal to send them back to the UK.
How we got here
The rise in asylum claims in Ireland, with 80% arriving from Northern Ireland, has been linked to the UK's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The recent High Court ruling in Ireland deemed the UK's designation as a safe third country unlawful, prompting the Irish government to address the issue through new legislation. The open border between Northern Ireland and Ireland has facilitated the movement of asylum seekers, leading to concerns and disagreements between the two nations.
More on these topics
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Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel.
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
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Rwanda, formerly Ruanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. One of the smallest countries on the African mainland, its capital city is Kigali.
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Simon Harris is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science since June 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency since 2011.
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Rishi Sunak is a British politician who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2022.
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Helen McEntee is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Justice since June 2020. She has been a Teachta Dála for the Meath East constituency since 2013.