Too early to judge impact of Rwanda plan on Ireland - No 10

The Rwanda plan seeks to deter people from crossing the English Channel in small boats

It is too early to jump to conclusions about the impact of the Rwanda scheme, Downing Street has said, after the Irish government suggested it was causing an increase in migrants crossing from Northern Ireland.

The plan aims to deter people from crossing the English Channel by sending some asylum seekers to the country in eastern central Africa.

Legislation to revive the Rwanda policy became law on Thursday.

No migrants have been sent yet.

The government had hoped for flights to take off by the spring but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says this should now happen within 10 to 12 weeks.

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Earlier this week, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the policy was already impacting Ireland as people were "fearful" of staying in the UK and crossing the border to the Republic so they would not be sent to Rwanda.

Mr Martin, who also serves as Ireland's foreign minister, told reporters in Dublin on Friday he did not agree with the policy.

"Clearly, we've had an increase in the numbers coming from Northern Ireland into the Republic," he said.

"And it's fairly obvious that a Rwanda policy, if you're a person in a given situation in the UK and well, then you don't want to go to Rwanda - not that anybody has gone yet, I hasten to add."

He said: "There are many other issues - it's not in any way trying to blame anything or anything like that."

Asked about his comments, a No 10 spokeswoman said: "It is too early to jump to specific conclusions about the impact of the Act and treaty in terms of migrant behaviour.

"Of course, we will monitor this very closely and we already work very closely as you would expect with the Irish government, including on matters relating to asylum.

"But of course, the intention behind the Act is to have it serve as a deterrent and that is why we are working to get flights off the ground as swiftly as possible."

Earlier this week, Ireland's Justice Minister Helen McEntee told a committee of the Irish Parliament there had been a rise in the number of people crossing the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, with this now making up 80% of the total number of asylum seekers.

The Safety of Rwanda Act, which aims to avoid further legal challenges to the policy by declaring Rwanda a safe country, was approved by MPs and peers this week and passed into law on Thursday.

However, the plan could still be held up by court challenges.