Mary Lou McDonald 'not in favour' of processing asylum seekers in third country

Mary Lou McDonald said she wanted to see staff levels for processing asylum applications double, but she was not in favour of processing in a third country. Picture: Conor Ó Mearáin / Collins 

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has dismissed the idea of processing asylum seeker applications in a third country.

Ms McDonald said she wanted to see staff levels for processing asylum applications double, but she was not in favour of processing in a third country.

A number of countries are currently seeking to remove asylum seekers to be processed outside their borders, including the UK and Italy.

The British Government’s policy would see asylum seekers who enter the country illegally after January 1, 2022, sent to Rwanda to be processed there. If their application was accepted, they would be granted permission to stay in the African country.

Asked on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne if she would be in favour of processing asylum seekers outside Ireland, Ms McDonald said: “No, I’m not in favour of that.

“I think our first job is to make sure that the system we have in this State actually works.” 

It comes after Taoiseach Simon Harris said he would remain “open-minded” on potentially exporting the processing of applications to a third country, as the European People’s Party has included the policy within its manifesto for Friday’s elections.

Mr Harris said it would be “absurd” not to look at the overall migration strategy given the increased number of people arriving in Ireland.

The Sinn Féin leader said one “obvious” mistake the Government had made had been a lack of communication with communities about asylum seekers arriving.

“We’ve seen the consequences of that. I think they have caused tensions, divisions within communities that could have largely been avoided if they had acted with common sense and treated people with respect,” Ms McDonald said.

She added while immigration was being raised at the doors, it was not the primary issue, which remains housing.

When the issue is raised, people fundamentally want to know: Do we have a system that’s fit for purpose? Do we have a Government that’s fit for purpose? Is there an adult in charge? Do they have a plan?

“Are they actually engaging respectfully with communities and are they resourcing those same communities?

“The answer, under this administration, is no to all of the above.” 

Asked about Sinn Féin representatives and candidates being labelled as “traitors” during canvassing, Ms McDonald admitted it did happen, but it was not the “standard”.

She said it was being done by a “noisy minority”, which was targeting Sinn Féin for Government failures on immigration.

“There has been an element on social media and elsewhere who have chosen, for political reasons, to direct that at us.

“That is a noisy minority. Most people expect and deserve reassurance on the issues of migration.”