Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I did not use the word "niche" to suggest the market is small or insignificant, but rather to suggest it is a specific part of the market. I would not consider the €500 million contribution per annum to the economy as insignificant either.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is carrying out a review of student immigration at the moment. We will be involved in the finalisation of that review. The recent report identified new and developing markets and we all agree that the Asia-Pacific region offers significant potential. From my time at the Department of Transport, I know the runway at Dublin Airport was lengthened to accommodate direct flights from the Far East. This has much potential for the future as people will not have to stop off in the UK before getting here. These developments augur well for growth in numbers from developing markets.

It is important we have a clear policy in place. There must be balance between ensuring we have a proper immigration policy and good controls in place, while ensuring the céad míle fáilte to those who come here is an obvious one.

A figure double our population, namely some 8 million people, came into the country last year. That this was successful demonstrates that, in large measure, our policy is working quite well. This does not mean we cannot enhance the procedures in place to protect existing markets and grow new markets.

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