Asylum seekers and the Border

Sir, – In a recent court case, Ms Justice Siobhán Phelan ruled that the Government’s declaration that the UK was a safe third country to return asylum seekers to was unlawful (“Ireland’s designation of UK as ‘safe third country’ is unlawful, rules High Court”, News, March 22nd).

A precedent has been set by this judgment, and this is also the position throughout the rest of the EU because of the Rwanda Bill in the UK.

If that is the case, how will the Minster for Justice be able to put forward a Bill that may be in breach of EU law?

Will we see the Government bussing asylum seekers to the Border and abandoning them there, as I’m sure both the ferry and airline operators will be reluctant to breach EU law by transporting them back to the UK? – Yours, etc,

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JOHN BERGIN,

Oxton,

Wirral,

UK.

Sir, – Given the revelations of hundreds of immigrants per week coming to Ireland via Northern Ireland unchecked, it is clear that an open border with no personnel is not fit for purpose. What is the point of having passport control at airports, and none at our only land border with the UK? It is equally concerning that our Government knew of this looming debacle and have done absolutely nothing about it.

If Ireland’s sovereignty and security mean the inconvenience of a Northern Irish passport border check, then so be it, we can live with it. We have no choice on the matter at our airports and it does not affect record numbers travelling to and from Ireland by air. – Yours, etc,

KEVIN NOLAN,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 16.

Sir, – It may come as a surprise to the Government and the Minister for Justice, but Ireland has always had to track UK asylum policy while they were members of the EU for the very simple reason that a percentage of those arriving illegally in the UK often tried their luck in our island via the Common Travel Area. This was particularly noticeable when the Irish-born child option was available in the late 1990s and early 2000s and the numbers seeking asylum surged, with many arriving from or via the UK through Northern Ireland.

Post-Brexit the situation has radically changed and as Ireland struggles to cope with an overwhelmed international protection process, it seems ludicrous that we are rushing through emergency legislation to deal with a High Court judgment blocking potential returns to the UK. Surely it would have been sensible to get agreement from the UK that they are willing to accept such returns given that they have no legal obligation to do so? As it is, the Government, and particularly the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Justice, have dug themselves into a hole that they will struggle to get out of. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL FLYNN,

Bayside,

Dublin 13.

Sir, – Instead of getting annoyed with the UK government on Rishi Sunak’s comments on “their” asylum policy, wouldn’t it be better if both governments co-operated?

It seems to me at least that the UK has a policy. – Yours, etc,

AIDAN RODDY,

Cabinteely,

Dublin 18.

A chara, – Has Simon Harris estimated what will be the likely costs for the civil and public service in dealing with the fallout from another country’s migration policy?

And who will pay those costs? – Is mise,

ART Ó LAOGHAIRE,

Bray,

Co Wicklow.

Sir, – With regard to the ongoing issue of migration, I can see that Government politicians have entered a common phase of any Irish political crisis: blame the English. – Yours, etc,

STEPHEN O’REILLY,

Malahide,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – It appears that Rishi Sunak is channelling Cromwell: “To Rwanda or Roscommon!” – Yours, etc,

RENAAT VERBRUGGEN,

Ashford,

Co Wicklow.