Taoiseach believes legislation will be needed to be able to return asylum seekers to UK

Simon Harris said that a Sinn Féin social media video which mentioned an opposition to 'open borders' was 'Tory rhetoric'

Taoiseach Simon Harris said a legal mechanism may be needed to "fix" the immigration situation at the border with the North and that this may need new legislation.

Legislation will be needed to return asylum seekers back to the UK, the Taoiseach has said, as he accused Sinn Féin of "right-wing Tory rhetoric" on immigration.

The Government has faced questions on the issue of immigration this week after Justice Minister Helen McEntee suggested that more than 80% of those seeking asylum in Ireland were coming across the border with the North, rather than arriving at ports and airports.