Taoiseach backs controversial proposals to crack down on migration

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar 'We also need to be more firm with people who try to come to Ireland illegally as economic migrants when we have a work permit system that can be used. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

The Taoiseach has backed controversial plans to crack down on migration but insisted the proposals put forward by his grouping in Europe were not the same as the UK’s Rwanda policy.

The European People’s Party (EPP), of which Fine Gael is a member, is pushing for a series of deals with non-EU countries that would see irregular migrants sent for asylum processing in “safe” third countries.