Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

No. Between ten and 20 files per day on average are brought to my attention for decisions. Nearly all of them are summarised and it is my general practice to rely on the summary while having the entire file available to me in my office. I examine all the material in a minority of cases, some of which have files that are six inches thick, whenever I am in doubt or there is a particular matter raised.

The Deputy has raised this issue again, so I will reiterate that I am speaking about primary and secondary education. If I had a system wherein people with children of an age to be in primary or secondary education would be effectively immune from deportation until both educational cycles were completed, 50% of family asylum-seeking groups in Ireland would be exempt from deportation. This is not a practical——

See this speech in context