A local migrants rights group claims the Government is dealing with an immigration crisis of its own making, due to a failure to put proper reception conditions in place.
New figures from the Department of Justice show less than 200 asylum seekers have been returned to the UK over a six-year period.
It comes as an encampment of international protection applicants in Dublin has been removed this morning.
On a week when the Irish and UK Governments have been at odds over the return of asylum seekers to the UK, the Justice Minister has now clarified the numbers presenting here from the north.
Minister Helen McEntee prevously claimed over 80% of asylum seekers in Ireland have come over the border but has now pointed to Justice Department data which shows the true figure is in fact 91%.
Despite this, a Downing Street spokesperson claims the UK has “no legal obligation” to accept the return of asylum seekers who cross the Common Travel Area.
Under the Dublin III Regulation, which was a reciprocal return agreement between Ireland and the UK between 2015 and 2020, just 162 asylum seekers were returned to the UK.
As 154 asylum seekers were returned here during the same period, this led to a net change of just eight people.
Newmarket-on-Fergus native and Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University Donncha Ó Beacháin believes Ireland is falling victim to Brexit-era anti-immigrant UK policies.
The Rural Independents are calling for a debate on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in the Dáil today.
The pact would see changes in how asylum seekers are processed by placing a focus on efficiently returning unsuccessful applicants to their countries of origin, as well as expediting the processing of those from safe countries or with invalid documents.
Rural Independents member and Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae insists a referendum on the matter is needed.
It comes on a day when a major operation has taken place on Mount Street in Dublin to remove what’s been described as a “tent city” outside the International Protection Office.
Doras CEO John Lannon believes the Government only has itself to blame for the current emergency accommodation crisis.
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