Fine Gael accused of ‘populist pandering’ as Harris sets out immigration policy

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

There is likely to be a “very significant increase” in deportations in the coming years, Taoiseach Simon Harris said as he set out his party’s immigration policy for the general election.

The Fine Gael leader also said his party would implement a means-tested, income-linked contribution towards State accommodation for international protection applicants with jobs.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Cork, Mr Harris said “common sense” had to be implemented in the immigration system.

He said: “The next step we must take now is around a contribution model for people in international protection.

“Now, let me be really clear: I’m talking about people who are earning money.

“People who come to our country do have a right to work after six months so this would be a means-tested contribution.”

Mr Harris said deportation orders had increased over the last 12 months.

He added: “It is a statement of fact, though, as we move forward with Europe and have a better policy over the next few years in terms of working at a European level on migration, that it’s likely we’ll see a very significant increase in the number of returns to other countries.

“It makes sense now to have an availability to call on a chartered plane should that need arise.

“Of course, many people leave the country of their own volition. Many people leave on commercial flights, but it is sensible now to put the infrastructure in place should a charter flight be needed.”

Asked if this would involve deporting someone to a third country, Mr Harris said: “No. This is about returning people to the country of origin or to a country where they may have already sought asylum.

“It’s not in any way comparable with policies that the UK have had in place in relation to Rwanda, policies that I in the past have described as despicable and stupid.”

At Labour’s candidate announcement, party leader Ivana Bacik said she was disappointed with Fine Gael’s position.

Ms Bacik accused the party of “populist pandering to anti-immigrant feeling”.

She added: “I’m very disappointed to see it coming from a Government party and I think it’s particularly shameful when we see it being trotted out now alongside a whole range of issues that some of the Government parties are going to be putting forward during the campaign.”

Speaking in Dublin, Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan said the policy was “surprising” given that Fine Gael has held the Department of Justice portfolio for almost 14 years.

He said: “When you look at my constituency (Dublin Bay South) at tents, and you look at barriers, it’s not a system that’s working very effectively.

“Fortunately, Minister (Helen McEntee) listened to Fianna Fáil when we suggested that she needs to designate further countries as safe countries, when we said you need to increase the fines on airlines.”

Mr O’Callaghan added: “It sounds to me that if it was a proposal they were serious about, they would have implemented it over the past 13 years.”

Fianna Fáil Minister of State James Browne at the Department of Justice said his party wanted to introduce a Department of Domestic Affairs to manage immigration issues.