Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Harkin that there is a distinction between sovereignty and the requirement for a referendum under Article 29 of the Constitution, but it does not mean it is any less a derogation of sovereignty when the State opts in and confers on other institutions the right to make decisions over a large area of what used to be national autonomy.

Some 80% of asylum applications now are being made by people who have travelled into Ireland from the UK. Is the Department aware whether they were lawfully in the UK with visas and so forth or were coming from non-visa required countries who then decide to come here and apply for EU asylum rights in Ireland? Is it the Minister's understanding that they can come to the UK legally and then come over here and at some point ask for asylum and that 80% of asylum applications, which are running at 15,000 to 20,000 per year, are in that category? Am I understanding that that is what she is telling us?