Ministers will discuss a possible move to end visa-free travel from South Africa, as the Government’s efforts to tighten immigration and asylum processes continue.
The expected move comes less than three years after the need for visas for travel from South Africa was abolished and results from officials’ warnings that people from Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo are travelling on South African passports.
Figures released by the Department of Justice show that the authorities are currently processing the applications of 198 people who arrived on South African passports this year – just over 3 per cent of the total.
It is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet committee on migration and integration next Thursday.
On Wednesday, Taoiseach Simon Harris told a Dáil committee the Government would “do more” to reduce the number of applicants for international protection (IP) – or asylum – who were coming over the Border with Northern Ireland.