Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I gave the figures earlier for voluntary returns. These refer to people notified to the Department as going. Any social welfare benefits and otherwise they might have been in receipt of would cease from that point onwards. In some instances the GNIB in Ennis would have facilitated their return. The figures are 529 persons in 2008, 539 in 2009 and 286 up to 31 August 2010. Equally, there is a substantial number of people who returned without any reference, and without any information being relayed to the Garda or State services. We do not have exit checks from this State, bearing in mind the Border as well. People may very well leave once they have been served with or know that a deportation order has been served.

The benefit of serving a deportation order in regard to somebody whose whereabouts are not known to the Garda means that the cessation of any benefits he or she might have been entitled to is complete. If he or she comes back into the system seeking social welfare or any other benefits, the fact that a deportation order is against him or her means that this will be brought to the attention of the authorities, and obviously an arrest will take place thereafter.

See this speech in context