I believe the Rwanda effect is impacting on Ireland. And I think that didn't happen today or yesterday. It's been growing since the first iteration and publication of that strategy around Rwanda, Mr Martin said on a visit to Amman, Jordan.
But it is having real impact on Ireland now in terms of people being fearful in the UK maybe that's the impact it was designed to have. So, they're leaving the UK and they are taking opportunities to come to Ireland, crossing the border to get sanctuary here and within the European Union as opposed to the potential of being deported to Rwanda.
The comments come as French president Emmanuel Macron also denounced Rishi Sunak's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as the politics of cynicism and a betrayal of European values. Mr Macron also warned it would be ineffective, just days after the scheme designed to give thousands a one-way ticket to the African country cleared its final parliamentary hurdle in the UK.
Mr Martin connected the controversial policy to Britain's failure to control migration after Brexit. I've watched what's happened in Britain over the last number of years, he said.
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