Helen McEntee labelled ‘disastrous’ at Fianna Fáil meeting as Taoiseach lauded at Fine Gael gathering over spat with Rishi Sunak

But there was an attack on the Minister for Justice at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting – and a call for her to appear before it.

Cork East TD James O’Connor said he had “serious concerns” about the performance of Helen McEntee, labelling as “disastrous” her performance at the Justice committee last week.

A serious conversation had to be had about her handling of law and order and Roderic O’Gorman’s role in the Department of Integration, he said.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has played down internal Government tensions and is supportive of ministers from other parties.

But Mr Martin was told that Ms McEntee and Mr O’Gorman should both come before the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to answer questions and hear the concerns of backbench TDs.

Such “guest appearances” have become a feature of this Dáil, although they are still uncommon.

Gardai remove 200 asylum seekers from Mount Street on coaches

At the Fianna Fáil meeting, the Tánaiste said the amending legislation agreed this week would allow the return people to the UK under post-Brexit arrangements on the Common Travel Area (CTA).

He acknowledged that communication and engagement must improve on all fronts on the migrant issue.

Mr Martin said he wants to see a Covid-style response. Numbers of people claiming asylum have increased considerably over the past 18 to 24 months, and this has created significant challenges for the State, he said.

Political slogans or promises “like we have seen” — an apparent reference to Mr Sunak — won’t solve the issue, the Tánaiste said.

“Further cooperation on an international level and working with our EU partners is the only solution,” he said.

The enhancement to the EU screening systems will help process applications faster, which is one of the keyways deal with the situation, he said.

Mr O’Connor was supported by Senator Lisa Chambers, who is running in the West in the Euro elections.

There was also said to be audible support in the room.

Fine Gael party chairman Alan Farrell, meanwhile, confirmed the backing of members for the leader, who was reassured it would blow over.

Mr Harris said he was not being drawn into British politics, noting again that local elections are being held across the UK on Thursday.

The Taoiseach also told the parliamentary party meeting that the 268 people removed from the makeshift camp in Mount Street, Dublin, would not be coming back.

The Fine Gael leader said he was pleased with the multi-agency operation in Mount St and added there were serious humanitarian concerns with what had been going on beside the International Protection Office.

There were suggestions that it was a form of intimidation of officials and thereby an attempt to influence the entire Government.

Former Taoiseach and party leader Leo Varadkar did not attend the parliamentary party for the first time. The exchanges on migration and the international row over border crossings was said to be “subdued”, with Mr Harris winning praise for the co-ordinated Mount Street operation, which was said to have the support of the public.

A Fianna Fáil source said: “There were a few digs at McEntee and Roderic.”

A Fine Gael source said some had stressed the need to be firm and fair with migrants, with a suggestion that “we have been fair and we have to be firm”.

But Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Enterprise, reminded members that migrants were contributing substantially to the economy, and “were it not for them, a lot of jobs would be unfilled in our society”.

Ms McEntee spoke to the Fine Gael meeting but her contribution was “low-key” and lasted “less than a minute”.

Mr Harris separately said good work is underway, outside of the Budgetary he will chair a meeting on Thursday to ensure further action on road safety.

On University Hospital Limerick, the Fine Gael meeting heard that an experienced team is now in place to work on patient flow for coming weeks following public outrage over the death of Aoife Johnston.