Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell. Before dealing with the substance of this matter, I need to make it clear that no asylum seeker will be, or ever has been, deported. In its express terms, Deputy Costello's motion addresses the Minister on the need to ensure that no asylum seeker who is sitting an Irish State examination this summer will be issued with a deportation order or deported during the examination period. Of course, it is impossible for the Minister to deport an asylum seeker, which is a fundamental point in terms of this matter.

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