Government believes biggest lever at its disposal is ramping up processing times for Nigerian applicants irrespective of any deal with London
Taoiseach Simon Harris: The Government believes speeding up processing times could return large numbers of asylum seekers to Nigeria. Photograph: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA Wire
These words were seized upon by British prime minister Rishi Sunak who tried to hold the situation up as an example of how his policy was working. It is worth pointing out that an operational arrangement on returns has been in place between Ireland and the UK since November 2020. This formed part of the protection and operation of the Common Travel Area. However, there have been no legal obligations on returns since Brexit, and that works both ways.The Government had added a new section to the International Protection Act 2015 which would allow the Minister for Justice to designate, by order, a third country as a safe third country.
The first is through new legislative measures which will allow for the resumption of returns of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK. Under a new extra layer, or extra test, the Minister will also consider the potential for serious harm which could, for example, be posed by a war or civil war.
In the meantime, the Government believes that the biggest lever at its disposal is its plan to ramp up processing times for the country providing the highest number of arrivals, which at present is Nigeria. They believe this will see large numbers returned to Nigeria, and this could be the more potent and effective fix.But as the last week has clearly shown, looming elections and domestic pressures can create a political tinderbox on both sides of the water.
Simon-Harris Helen-Mcentee Rishi-Sunak Micheal-Martin
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