More work needed to tackle illegal migration from Northern Ireland, Taoiseach says

David Forsythe

The Government needs better monitoring of people crossing the border from Northern Ireland to tackle illegal migration, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheál Martin acknowledged that people travelling into the Republic from the UK through Northern Ireland continue to pose challenges under the Common Travel Area.

“There is an issue,” he told the Dáil.

The Government had discussed migration with the British Government during the recent UK-Ireland Summit in Cork, he said, and Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan had also been in contact with the UK Home Secretary.

Martin said stronger monitoring of traffic and public transport crossing the border was already taking place under Operation Sonnet, but accepted more work was needed.

“We do need more monitoring and controls so that we understand what is happening in these flows, as well as to deal with traffickers,” he said.

The Taoiseach was responding to questions from Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who claimed 85 per cent of asylum seekers entering the State arrive through Northern Ireland.

Martin said he did not have figures to support that claim but accepted that the number was “significant.”

“I think it is high. I'm not arguing the figure, but the point I would make is there is a need for data on this,” he said.

He ruled out the return of a hard border, saying it “cannot happen,” but said the Government would continue working with the UK to strengthen controls while protecting the Common Travel Area.

Martin also said human trafficking remained a major factor in irregular migration, describing cases of trafficked women he had discussed with support organisations in Northern Ireland as “terrible” and “horrifically abused.”