Ireland’s premier has described a suggestion that his government could sign up to the UK’s Rwanda scheme as “more satire than news”.

Simon Harris dismissed the idea as he made clear Ireland would pursue its own policy in regard to migration.

On Friday, the Daily Telegraph reported a Downing Street source indicating that the UK government would be prepared to explore the potential for Ireland to join its controversial scheme to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Mr Harris was asked about the report during a visit to Belfast on Friday.

“Can I just say in relation to that issue of Ireland and Rwanda, that’s more satire than news and Ireland has its own policy in relation to migration,” he said.

“We’ve every right to have our own policy, and indeed will seek to advance migration policy through our membership to the European Union.”

Tensions between London and Dublin have increased in recent days after Ireland’s justice minister Helen McEntee claimed there had been an upsurge in asylum seekers crossing the border from the UK into the Republic of Ireland following the passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act at Westminster.

Talk's Peter Cardwell is joined by former Irish politician Mairia Cahill to discuss.

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