Sinn Féin slams Government’s ‘incompetence’ on immigration as Taoiseach denies coalition conflict

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said the Government had made a complete mess of the situation in recent days, with a "chaotic approach" and no plan to get to grips with the influx.

There was confusion between Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Justice Minister Helen McEntee which had spread to the Government and the UK government as to whether there was or was not an agreement for the taking back of asylum seekers denied the right to remain here, she said.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said however that there was an agreement, as had been confirmed by Downing Street today, and the Minister for Justice had received Cabinet clearance to introduce emergency legislation/

It would be brought in before the end of May, he indicated.

"This is just one of a number of measures we are taking to make sure we come at this issue from all angles," he said.

There were ten countries on the safe list, and Nigeria was among them, he said, noting that Nigerians are now the most prominent nationality seeking refuge and asylum in the Republic.

Mr Harris said the Common Travel Area coordination group between the two Governments was due to meet in any case next week, and he welcomed that.

On the 80pc figure, Mr Harris said such information was shared with the Minister by her officials, and she had then responsibly offered it in turn.

There was a "very significant increase" in the number of people presenting at the International Protection Office who had come here from the UK, he said.

But Ms McDonald said the Tánaiste's remarks had been "a gift" to the Tories in Britain.

Mr Harris responded that he was concerned with not allowing this country become a pawn in any politics in the United Kingdom.

The Tánaiste was not in contradiction of what the minister had said, which was based on what was being said to her, he said.

Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said disinformation was characterising the debate, and the Government had no handle on the situation. The Minister for Justice had been forced to rely on anecdote, she said, without any clear data.

She said it was a scandal that Baggot Street hospital was standing idle when there was a tent city in nearby Mount Street, she said, adding that she had visited that location today.

"We cannot force Britain to take back immigrants we would turn away," she said.

If the Rwanda policy was fundamentally incompatible with international human rights law, although it was now the law in Britain, then there was no way anyone could be repatriated to the UK, she said.

"We do have data, and we do gather data," Mr Harris said, "but we don't count the people who come over the border".

"But very experienced staff carry out interviews (at the IPO office) and they are telling Government that the majority now come from Britain."

The Taoiseach said people were getting frustrated because they wanted to help people in need, but they also wanted to know that there was a rules-based system in place.