Mr. Pablo Rojas Coppari:

I understand the concern about the large discrepancy in numbers. I will explain the reason for that. We have already addressed this issue. For reasons that are obvious, it is impossible to calculate accurately the number of irregular migrants in this State. We have calculated three different estimates. We calculate those estimates by using the only data available from the State, which relate to the number of people who are irregular and are apprehended by the State. Such people may be asked about their intention to leave the State and issued with deportation orders on that basis, others may be issued with voluntary return orders and others may be given leave to remain. We have calculated a number by examining the percentages of those who are apprehended and eventually choose one of the three options. This is supplemented by something called the residual method, which uses a coefficient to determine that a certain percentage of those who are issued permissions to stay here will remain here undetected when they no longer have permission to be here. We can come up with a broader figure out of that. We are aware that a certain percentage of these people will have children. This is the hardest group to gauge because children do not feature anywhere in the immigration system. Children under the age of 16 do not have to be registered. Children are born here as well. We calculate that a percentage of those who are undocumented here will have children over a certain period of time. We have said that the figure ranges from 2,500 to 6,000 because we have three different estimates.

I would like to say two things in conclusion. We are making a presentation to the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs on 30 November next. We feel it would be useful if both committees could speak to each other about their recommendations. We will notify the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs that we have been here today. Ireland was instrumental in drafting the New York declaration, which was the outcome of the UN summit on migrants and refugees. We pride ourselves on having contributed to that and on taking the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council. I think it should be mentioned that by failing to act on recommendations from the international community and failing to address human rights issues in this State, we discredit ourselves in front of the international community.