Simon Harris ‘encouraged’ by reports of increase in checks at Border involving gardaí and PSNI

So far this year, gardaí have carried out 12 days of action under Operation Sonnet while in the past week, 50 people were refused leave to remain in Ireland.

Officers attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are also deploying the operation weekly as part of An Garda Síochána’s response to the upsurge of migrants crossing from the North.

Commenting on the reports, Simon Harris said that gardaí carry out operational matters with the PSNI on an ongoing basis and said it is “really important that we don’t have any abuse of the Common Travel Area”.

Speaking in Limerick, Mr Harris said: “I’ve been very clear since I became Taoiseach that yes, when we talk about migration, we should talk about accommodation but that should not be the totality of the conversation.

“We also have to talk much more about the rules that are in place and I certainly am encouraged by the reports today of the ongoing active garda operation and cooperation and collaboration that they have with the PSNI.

“Ireland is a country that knows the value of immigration. We are a better country as a result of migration, but we are also a country that has rules.

“People want to see, along with compassion, common sense injected into the migration debate.”

The Sunday Independent reported that the 50 people refused leave to remain in Ireland who were at Ravensdale last week accounted for nearly half the 107 people stopped after crossing the Border between last October and May 20.

The figures are set against a backdrop of an estimated 600 international protection applicants believed to be crossing the Border every week.

Detective Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock, who is in charge of GNIB, said that Operation Sonnet has been ramped up in part because the Department of Justice is taking over some 100 administrative roles from gardaí and freeing them up for operational duties.

“We are trying to protect the integrity of the Common Travel Area, but also trying to make sure that people are not abusing the immigration system in breach of the law,” said Det Chief Sup Minnock.

“We remove people from the State who enter illegally and have been refused leave to land. So, in other words, they are in breach of the Immigration Act.

“They don’t have the correct documentation or visas to enter the State.”