Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I take on board what the Deputy has said, but the bottom line is that because we have left our options open, we can either opt in or out on a case-by-case basis. That is the reason the proposal is framed in the way it is. Ireland will apply all of the protections relating to human rights, whether individuals are here legally or illegally, or whether they are applying for residency or asylum. The proposal has nothing to do with this. It provides that if having exhausted the process, it is found a person has no legal right to stay in the State, we will have the option of sending him or her back to his or her country of origin, or, in the event that any country finds an Irish person has overstayed beyond the duration of his or her visa or is in that country illegally, we will accept his or her return to Ireland. This is a two-way street, but the agreement only applies after exhausting all of the possible avenues available. As the Deputy knows, there are extensive avenues available. Therefore, I do not see our agreement as having the impact he suggests. I understand his concerns perfectly, but that is not what this is about.