Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As to the Deputy's last question, the first iteration was presented in 2016. There is, and has been, an option for any member of this committee or any Member of the Houses to raise any of the issues that were presented in 2016, or in 2020 with the second iteration. There was nothing to stop Deputies or Senators from putting down questions, calling for debates, bringing forward Private Members' Bills or motions, Topical Issues or Commencement matters, all which I always endeavour to respond to. For the last eight years, it has been open to Members of the Houses to put down questions or to seek to engage on this. We had recent debates on immigration and there were two significant debates in the Houses in which I outlined this. Obviously, it was open for Deputies to raise concerns there as well.

In terms of whether this takes away our sovereignty, in the same way that the Irish people voted to elected Deputy McGrath, they also voted to sign up to the Lisbon treaty. It was made clear in the Lisbon treaty that we would have an option to opt in to these types of measures when it comes to migration and security. Nothing is forced on us. We have opted in to a significant number to date. My preference is that we opt in at the earlier stages because if we opt in now, then we have an opportunity to work through the detail and be part of those discussions. Opting in at a later stage means you do not have those options. That is why we have the timeframe now, but this has been open to anyone to raise any matter which has been very public for the last eight years. Obviously, that has not happened for whatever reason.

As for the funding, €12.960 million would be sought from us instead of taking 648 people, if that is what we chose. That is actually a lower figure than what it currently costs us to house, accommodate and process someone at the moment, which costs, on average, approximately €25,500 for one year. People might stay shorter or longer and that figure would equate to €20,000. If we do not sign up to the various measures, have a greater and faster way to return and process people, which means people spend longer here, that figure will obviously be much more. The more efficient the process we have, the quicker we can turn people around and the better process we have for returning people, the more cost effective it will be than what we are paying now where people are longer in accommodation, it takes longer to process them and we do not have an efficient way of returning them. Overall, we estimate that the cost would be less, even potentially with increased migration globally. Yes, the figure of €30,000 is the minimum figure, but our percentage is quite minimal when it is looked at; it is 2.16%. Nothing will be forced on us. We can choose to take people or pay the figure instead. As I said, the figure is actually less than what it costs us to house and to process people here at the moment.