An Irish barrister entered into a heated debate on GB News with host Martin Daubney after it was reported this week that Ireland wants England to take back asylum seekers who entered its territory.

In response to this Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "We’re not going to accept returns from the EU via Ireland when the EU doesn’t accept returns back to France, where illegal migrants are coming from."

Speaking to Irish barrister Paul Turner on GB News Martin Daubney said: "Suddenly, when it's going down like a cup of cold sick with the Irish electorate who are sick to the back teeth of it, we've seen protests across Dublin, we've seen arson attacks.

"We've seen ordinary families being branded as far right by the leaders, by the police, by the media.

"They simply want to take back control of their borders in the face of an overwhelming public revolt against a very unpopular policy from the leadership.

"They're suddenly acting tough because they know, that elections are coming up in June, European elections and the pro-strong control of borders parties are expected to make safe gains. Suddenly the Irish institution realised they may have backed the wrong horse."

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He added: "That's one way of looking at it. It's an entirely reasonable way.

"Another way of looking at it would be that the Irish were only in this position because Rishi Sunak is seeking to undo the 2020 deal, which would have meant that the UK could have taken people back and the 2020 deal was essentially post-Brexit.

"So, Rishi Sunak has scored a point, if you like, by playing tough with the Irish. But why should we take people back from Ireland when we can't send people back to France?

"If these international treaties and obligations exist, surely it must work both ways?"

Turner said: "Well, Ireland's not France and there is a common border and a common history. A very close one.

"There is an agreement that is referred to as Operation Sonet between the UK and the Irish to facilitate the Common Travel area which we share with Ireland, which we don't share with the EU.

"That's an important distinction. We have this common travel area, including the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

"For that to work well the UK and Irish governments reached an agreement which was enforced by Operation Sonet, whereby they could, irrespective of EU laws and EU conventions, return people from both sides of the border.

"So yes, I can see at first glance why it's good for the goose, good for the gander.

"But the UK and Ireland have a very close and special relationship, and have reached an agreement, which Rishi Sunak is seeking to undo and I would say it is for political reasons."

Ireland's politics of immigration have grown more acrimonious in recent years, with an influx of refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere adding urgency to a nationwide housing crisis.