Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

It is in case he or she becomes disruptive on the plane. One immigration officer had his arm broken by a person resisting deportation. Disruptive passengers may necessitate flights to be grounded and arrests made. The views of other passengers must be taken into account, especially on long-haul flights, if a significantly disruptive passenger is on a plane. It is not an exact science but the number of supervising gardaí must increase in the case of a commercial flight. There must be a ratio of two or three to one to prevent an outburst or a breach of the peace on the plane. Commercial carriers are not very keen on such passengers so judgment must be used. Economic factors are taken into account and perhaps there is a graph that shows when a commercial flight is feasible.

The majority of people who finish the asylum process are requested to leave voluntarily. They are offered arrangements to return home, with the assistance of the International Organisation of Migration. Everyone who is brought to Dublin Airport in custody to be sent home on a charter flight has been offered and has refused the opportunity to return to his or her country on an ordinary flight with assistance from the Irish State. Everyone is well treated and is offered the more civilised and dignified option. If we did not have a system of deportation our law would be a mockery.

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