Ireland may not be able to return any asylum seekers who arrive after being forced to leave the UK

Ireland may have to take in every rejected asylum seeker from the UK after Brexit, according to a high-ranking government official.

James Martin, assistant secretary at the Department of Justice, briefed civil servants that Britain could “dramatically” change its asylum regime after its planned departure next year.

Speaking to staff at his department’s international policy division, he said Ireland may not be able to send back any asylum seekers who come here after being forced to leave the UK.

Mr Martin chairs the working group set up to identify issues around justice expected after Brexit. Speaking notes from the briefing in October 2016, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, show he said that the “obvious implication” of the UK leaving was that “we might