Michael McDowell (Independent)

I welcome the Minister.

Is it the case that people who are granted refugee status are free to travel backwards and forwards to their countries of origin without control? There is control at an airport, but are they free to enter and re-enter their countries of origin and come back to Ireland or is a check kept on that?

Second, the Minister mentioned that 2,846 deportation orders were made this year. How many voluntary deportations took place and how many involuntary deportations have taken place in respect of those 2,846 people? Does the making of a deportation order end the right to accommodation immediately?

On the number of international protection applicants, the Minister's predecessor, Deputy O'Gorman, a few years ago spoke about a new normal of 30,000. It looks as though the number is 15,000 per annum at the moment or thereabouts. Deputy McEntee was the Minister's immediate predecessor. She said when she was Minister for Justice that 80% of international protection applicants applying in Ireland have travelled through the United Kingdom. Is that still the case or is it a different proportion?

The Minister said that it costs him €1 billion per annum to accommodate Ukrainian people receiving protection from the Ukrainian war and €1.2 billion for others. Am I correct that this is an annual budget for accommodation of over €2.2 billion? Will he confirm that?

The Minister mentioned the rate card. Has that been published? Is it available for the public to see?