Mayo senator slams UK Prime Minister's remarks and policies
Mayo Senator Lisa Chambers has strongly condemned comments made by Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader, Rishi Sunak, during his election campaign visit to Belfast.
The FF European election candidate criticised Sunak's assertion of a "constructive relationship" with Ireland, calling it "completely out of touch with reality."
She further denounced the UK government's Rwanda policy as disastrous, labelling it as "migration dumping" on Ireland and damaging to the long-standing UK-Irish relationship.
Chambers emphasised the negative impact of Sunak's policies on the principle of open borders secured under the Good Friday Agreement.
"Quite clearly, Prime Minister Sunak and the Conservative Party are scrambling for achievements to present to the British people given their disastrous polling ahead of the UK general election," she said.
"The mismanagement of the Brexit process by the Conservative government has been disastrous for the UK economy and their Rwanda policy has equally been disastrous for their relationship with the Irish government."
Highlighting specific incidents, Chambers pointed to the late cancellation of a meeting between UK Home Secretary James Cleverly and Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, intended to discuss the return of migrants and protections for the Common Travel Area.
She criticised the UK government's use of the UK-Irish relationship as leverage in resolving migration issues with France, and the controversial Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which grants amnesty to British soldiers accused of atrocities in Northern Ireland, contravening the Good Friday Agreement.
She outlined that the latter issue for Fianna Fáil as a Republican Party was particularly egregious, and this legislation needed to be reversed by the next UK Government.
Chambers has also raised these ill-advised remarks in the British media, emphasising the need for a constructive and honest dialogue between the UK and Ireland.
"It is clear that there is a need for change in government in the UK," Chambers concluded.
"The Rwanda policy is a prime example of the disastrous populist policies pursued by the Conservative Party, which not only fail to provide real solutions to the UK's migration issues but also undermine the strong bond between the UK and Ireland."