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

It is 87.66%. It suggests, and I think it is a fairly strong basis to suggest it, that the overwhelming majority of people who are claiming international protection in Ireland are arriving over the Border. They are coming from the United Kingdom, arriving into Northern Ireland and coming down and claiming international protection in Ireland. The reason we say that is because if somebody arrives into Dublin Airport or one of the ports and wants to claim asylum, he or she will do it there and then. Therefore, if we are trying to identify the make-up of international protection applicants, it is clear that most are coming from Britain. That makes it difficult for us. We fought for many years, appropriately and successfully, to keep the Border open but, obviously, the common travel area is an agreement for the benefit of citizens of Ireland and the UK. It is not for the benefit of citizens of other jurisdictions. Therefore, it is unlawful for a person outside of Ireland and UK citizenship to travel across the Border like that. However, it does indicate that a significant number of the issues we have to deal with derive from the UK. Similarly, my UK counterpart has concerns about people arriving into Dublin, going up to Belfast and travelling over to the UK.

The Senator also asked whether asylum applicants who arrive in Ireland and are granted their status can travel back to the country from where they came. If they get citizenship, obviously, they are allowed to travel anywhere. If they get asylum, they are entitled to have asylum here, but that will not get them into another country. They cannot and should not be seeking asylum in other countries. In terms of going back to the country from where they came, I suppose it looks like it is contradictory in terms of what they made out on their application. However, this it is not something in respect of which I have information to the effect that it is happening.