Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

This undoubtedly is an issue that is being considered by the committee and obviously I will await the committee's consideration, as well as the representations and submissions that have been made. However, it is an issue in that it is being used to an extent by some as an opportunity to come here as economic migrants. Lest anyone outside the Chamber thinks this is a major cohort, I wish to emphasise it is estimated that this only pertains to 10,000 to 11,000 people. While some educational interests suggest that 200,000 students come to Ireland for educational purposes, I am unsure whether that figure is correct. Undoubtedly, however, the vast majority of students who do so are not from non-EEA countries but in the main are from the European Union and do not require a visa at all.

See this speech in context