Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I want to ensure that a readmission agreement that is agreed between the European Commission and Kazakhstan sets out an effective procedure. Let us just leave aside the question of which country it is. Such an effective procedure should apply in the limited number of circumstances where a person must be returned to that receiving country. I am talking about things such as if we need to contact them within 30 days of issuing a deportation order, they then have to respond to us within another 30 days and then there is a procedure or a period of a certain time for us to give effect to it and they will have to accept the person back. At present, it takes a phone call to ask whether there is any chance that they would take this person back. It is completely informal and haphazard.

Throughout the immigration system, not just in terms of international protection, I just want to see rules so that when the Cathaoirleach, as a parliamentarian, asks me as the Minister or vice versa in years to come, we know the reason that person was returned is that these are the rules as set out in the readmission agreement - that we had to send them within 30 days and failed to do it. This system is inoperable unless it is a rules-based system. I know the narratives about people's human rights are extremely important and they will form part of the agreement. I would like to see that in the agreement as well. However, ultimately we cannot have migration policy decided anecdotally; it must be decided by rules. I think that is fairer for everyone.