Rishi Sunak has accused Dublin of “jeopardising the Good Friday Agreement” as Ireland face becoming Brexit hypocrites by introducing border checks on the Emerald Isle.
Dublin announced 100 police officers will work in front-line immigration enforcement duties in border areas after ministers warned up to 90 per cent of asylum seekers had come from the UK via Northern Ireland.
Rishi Sunak warned Irisih Taoiseach Simon Harris against creating checkpoints or introducing a hard border on the Emerald Isle.
The Prime Minister stressed it was important to avoid adding barriers under the Good Friday Agreement, Common Travel Area and Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
Rishi Sunak fired back against Dublin over its reaction to migrants entering
GETTY
He said: “We can’t have cherry-picking of important international agreements and so the Secretary of State is seeking urgent clarification that there will be no disruption or police checkpoints at or near the border.”
Sunak also stressed the “UK has no legal obligation to accept returns of illegal migrants from Ireland”.
The Prime Minister added: “Now, it’s no surprise that our robust approach to illegal migration is providing a deterrent but the answer is not sending police to villages in Donegal.
“It’s to work with us in partnership to strengthen our external borders all around the Common Travel Area that we share.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Dublin announced 100 police officers will work in front-line immigration enforcement duties in border areas
GETTY
Harris, who insisted there would be no police checkpoints, did not rule out sending officers to the border.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris also called a meeting with Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin to seek further assurances.
A statement from the Northern Ireland Office said the call between Mr Heaton-Harris and Mr Martin was “constructive” and that he confirmed no officers would be deployed on the border.
“The Secretary of State reiterated that the UK will not accept any readmissions or returns arrangements that are not in our interest,” the statement added.
Simon Harris is Ireland’s latest Prime Minister
GETTY
Concerns were raised about a hard border on the Emerald Isle during Brexit negotiations between the UK and EU.
Dublin insisted the border needed to remain open and the UK instead opted to erect a customs border down the Irish Sea.
However, Ireland is facing a backlash due to its ongoing migrant crisis, with protesters taking to the streets across the country.
Despite speculation about the Rwanda plan impacting Ireland, Sunak’s spokesman stressed the Government “does not recognise” Ireland’s 90 per cent figure and Martin pointed out the number was “not statistical, it’s not a database or evidence base”.
