Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Chair for ensuring that we are having this debate, particularly as it is something the wider public have been talking about for some time.

I live beside a direct provision centre and have done so for 25 years. Anybody who has ever come through the gates of Ashbourne House Hotel has always been welcomed by the community and been well integrated. Notwithstanding that, recent debates have obviously changed to the whole idea of people profiteering from this in recent years.

The Minister spoke how we were in an emergency situation. When I became a member of the public petitions committee a number of years ago, I recall the then Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, came before us with a White Paper and stated that we were going to abolish direct provision. That gives us a picture of how big an emergency or crisis this has been. This is not my opportunity to take potshots at him or anything. He had to deal with that crisis as best he could.

My initial question follows on from what Senator McDowell sought in terms of clarification around the numbers of voluntary and forced deportation notices for 2024 and this year. I tabled parliamentary questions on this matter a number of times and received some information. Ultimately, however, what I would like to know is about cases where we tell people they have to leave voluntarily. What happens after a notice is served? I am hearing different things from around the country about people just ignoring these notices. What happens in that scenario? People up sticks and move to a different part of the country. They probably go underground in some cases. What happens in circumstances where people are served with voluntary deportation orders?