UK's Rwanda plan unlikely to ever become operational, says Fianna Fáil TD

Vivenne Clarke

Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan has expressed doubt that the UK’s 'Rwanda Policy' will ever become operational.

Mr O’Callaghan was speaking on RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show, responding to a Belfast High Court ruling on Monday which found the policy cannot be used in Northern Ireland as it breaches human rights protections.

"I have my doubts as to whether it will ever become operational, but what the High Court in Belfast determined was, because of the [Nothern Ireland] protocol, which is now called the Windsor Framework.

"Article Two of that provided that there shall be no diminution of the rights of people in Northern Ireland that they have under the Good Friday Agreement, and consequently any proposal to remove people to Rwanda was determined by Mr Justice Humphreys to violate Article Three, which prohibits inhuman treatment," Mr O’Callaghan said.

"My own assessment is that if you are a migrant in Britain at present, and you're concerned about the Rwanda policy becoming operational, I suppose it is an option, an attractive option is to go to Northern Ireland, where at present, under the judgment yesterday, that Rwanda policy cannot apply."

Mr O’Callaghan pointed out that a decision was given by the Irish High Court on March 22nd, which said that Ireland could no longer view the UK as a safe third country.

"Many people have said, well, we can't make it a safe third country'.

"I think we should, but even if there is a question mark over making the UK a safe third country, I think the new legislation coming before the Oireachtas should definitely promise the making of parts of a country to be a safe third country, and certainly Northern Ireland, as things stand at present today is a safe third country," he added.

Asked if Northern Ireland should be designated a safe third country in legislation, Mr O’Callaghan responded "absolutely".