The majority of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland are coming from the UK, an Irish government minister has confirmed.
Speaking during an Irish Parliament scrutiny committee where she discussed the figures, McEntee said: “I’d say it’s higher than 80 per cent.”
The minister said that she believes the rise in numbers is linked to the consequences of seeking an open border after Brexit.
“This is the challenge that we have, that we have advocated for an open border on this island,” she said. “It is absolutely a challenge.”
Around 80 per cent of the asylum seekers coming to Ireland are crossing over from the UK
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Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher, who was present at the hearing, said that the statistic was “particularly worrying”.
Her comments come amid a surge in refugees in the country, as well as a housing crisis which has resulted in many asylum seekers sleeping in tents.
The UK and Ireland share a Common Travel Area, which came into effect before both countries joined the EU.
The Irish government believe that a significant number of recent refugees have come from Nigeria.
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A returns agreement between the two countries is in place, which allows Ireland to return migrants who hold refugee status in Britain.
Taoiseach Simon Harris earlier said that "more needed to be done" to deal with the number of asylum seekers crossing the border from the North.
Speaking at the select committee on public expenditure and reform, Harris said the trend of people crossing the border to seek asylum had grown in recent months.
“We have to do more in this space,” he said.
An asylum seeker who currently lives in a tent outside the International Protection Office protests outside the Department of Integration in Dublin
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“This wasn't always the way. And, in fact, this is a relatively recent phenomenon.”
Last month, Ireland’s High Court ruled that Britain is not safe for migrants due to risk of deportation to Rwanda.
Justice Siobhan Phelan said the Irish Government’s assertion of the UK as a “safe third country” where they could send refugees back to was unlawful.
Last year, former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar warned that Ireland had reached its limit when it came to adequately supporting refugees.
