Seán Kelly says Ireland may not need EU return hubs as asylum numbers fall

Fine Gael MEP points to declining irregular migration across Europe while insisting controversial measure should remain an emergency option

Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly denied the returns scheme was similar to that of the former UK Government’s Rwanda policy, whereby asylum seekers would be moved to Rwanda for processing and settlement. File picture

Ireland may not need to use controversial ‘return hubs’ for failed asylum seekers due to a fall in the number of people seeking protection in Europe, a Fine Gael MEP has said.

Seán Kelly has said the policy may only be required in the case of a “large influx” of migration into the EU.

“The possibility is there to use it, but I’m not sure whether it is necessary,” Mr Kelly said, speaking to the Irish Examiner in Strasbourg.

“It was interesting that since we brought in the migration and asylum pact, in relation particularly to returns, that the number of illegals coming into the European Union has dropped by, I think, 50%.”

Return hubs could see asylum seekers who have their application rejected be sent to third country detention centres, while their deportation to their home country is arranged.

According to Frontex, the EU’s border and coastguard agency, the number of people who have crossed into the EU irregularly has fallen by 37% in the first six months of 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.

The agency detailed there were over 49,000 crossings detected so far in 2026, with a 71% decline in the number of people arriving via West Africa.

The Fine Gael MEP for Ireland said the majority of those entering the EU illegally were being brought in by people smugglers, saying they are “exploiting” asylum seekers for their own gain without being interested in their welfare.

Mr Kelly added: “A point which is being missed, if people are coming illegally, taking up the space and the time and the money and the expertise required to go and vet them, there are probably an awful lot of genuine people who would be entitled to come legally, who are denied, and again, that's not being looked at.”

He said return hubs could be required if there was “a big influx” of migration.

Mr Kelly denied the returns scheme was similar to that of the former UK Government’s Rwanda policy, whereby asylum seekers would be moved to Rwanda for processing and settlement.

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“I don’t think you can equate it to Rwanda. The European Union would be different to the British government, because they’d have more restrictions, they’d have clearer guidelines, rules that would follow up, accountability,” Mr Kelly said.

“If there wasn’t respect for the human dignity and the human rights of people, then I think there’d be a very quick reaction to stop it.”

It comes as the human cost of people seeking to make it to Europe remains high, with the United Nations Migration Agency outlining there have been at least 990 people killed while crossing the Mediterranean.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government has “no immediate plans” to consider the use of return hubs, saying there were instead plans to speed up asylum application decisions.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said he would not “rule out” the use of return hubs, saying he has an “open mind” on the EU measures.

While Ireland is not currently preparing to use the mechanism, countries like Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy are pushing for the go-ahead to establish return hubs.