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

With particular regard to the returns border procedure, which will not apply to us because we are not in Schengen, it is mandatory for people to be removed within the 12-week time period after they have been given their decision within the first three months. The border procedure is three months. That is everything from start to appeals. The EU and those in Schengen would have to remove people after 12 weeks, so it is likely that we would mirror that, and we would propose 12 weeks. Again, it would be for the Oireachtas to decide if that is the appropriate figure. Where possible, I think that we align with the measures that the EU is proposing. The whole point of this is that we do not have different systems applying in different countries that act as pull factors, or that there are differences with regard to how people are treated, and whether that is fairly or not.