Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. If there is an opportunity to do so, I suggest that the Department liaise with one of our universities. It would be very useful if there was a PhD student who tried to track where people who are unsuccessful go. If people are prepared to talk to Connect the Dots, they would be prepared to talk in confidence to a researcher or a team of researchers. If we find out where our unsuccessful applicants are going, it might better shape or inform our view of how we treat such applications in the first place. This is not a comment on the officials from the Department, but it is probably a bit irresponsible of the State to send people away not knowing what happens to them or where they go.

Will the witnesses address the question I asked about why people are coming if they are not genuine asylum seekers or individuals who deserve international protection? The figure of 50% is still quite high, and they are coming here for reasons that do not meet the Department's criteria. Is there an overarching dynamic there? Are they coming for work? Are they coming to better actualise themselves or for the better opportunities?