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Rishi Sunak claims an influx of migrants travelling into Ireland on small boats show the government’s Rwanda plan is working.
Ministers plan to send asylum seekers coming to the UK on a one-way flight to the east African nation, with the aim of deterring others from crossing the English Channel on small boats.
Deputy Irish Premier Micheal Martin said on Friday (26 April) that the UK’s asylum policy is driving migrants in fear of being deported to Rwanda across the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland.
In an interview with Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, which will air in full on Sunday, the Prime Minister was challenged over whether the UK is simply exporting the problem.
He responded by saying: “The deterrent is… already having an impact because people are worried about coming here.
“My focus is on the United Kingdom and securing our borders.
“But what that comment illustrates is a couple of things.
“One, that illegal migration is a global challenge, which is why you’re seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe will follow where the UK has led.
“But what it also shows, I think, is that the deterrent is, according to your comment, already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what I’m saying.
“If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay, they’re much less likely to come, and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”
Legislation ensuring the plan is legally sound, the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, was approved by Parliament this week and was signed into law on Thursday.
Downing Street yesterday rebuffed claims the Rwanda plan was already influencing movements into Ireland, saying it was too early to jump to conclusions on its impact.
Mr Martin, who also serves as Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, said: “Clearly, we’ve had an increase in the numbers coming into Northern Ireland into the Republic. And it’s fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if you’re a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you don’t want to go to Rwanda – not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add.
“So I think it’s a fair comment of mine. There are many other issues – it’s not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that.”
But a No 10 spokeswoman said: “It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.
“Of course, we will monitor this very closely and we already work very closely as you would expect with the Irish government, including on matters relating to asylum.
“But of course, the intention behind the Act is to have it serve as a deterrent and that is why we are working to get flights off the ground as swiftly as possible.”
Mr Sunak this week acknowledged it could still take 10 to 12 weeks to get flights in the air, in a blow to his earlier target of seeing this take place in the “spring” of this year.
Irish ministers earlier this week suggested there had been a rise in the number of migrants crossing the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Justice minister Helen McEntee told a committee of the Irish Parliament the number was now “higher than 80%” crossing from Northern Ireland.
