Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

All failed asylum seekers and persons illegally in the State are first given the opportunity of going home voluntarily, funded in many cases by the taxpayer. If this is not availed of and a deportation order results, it is carried out with due advance notice to the deportee, which was the case on this occasion.

Since I became Minister I have observed some groups in this country who place themselves on a high moral ground, running to the media with gross exaggerations or misinformation regarding the treatment of individual asylum seekers, including the deportation process.

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