Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government's view is similar to the Deputy's in the context of Covid-19, that unless people represent a threat to national security they should not be deported at the present point in time. Deporting is a part of our wider migration management programme but in the context of Covid, we have obligations to the health of people, irrespective of status, for example, in terms of sending someone back to a red zone in respect of the prevalence of the Covid virus. In the context of the legislation before the Seanad this week, the Minister for Justice is making the point that whilst wanting to retain the capacity in terms of threat to national security or other factors, we would have a stay on deportations.

See this speech in context