Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

When he said they were overturned or quashed, I would have to interrogate his language in terms of how he defines "quashed" and "overturned". The Minister is bringing in legislation to deal with all of this but there was a time ten years ago when a Deputy like Deputy Tóibín - maybe not Deputy Tóibín himself - would stand up in this House and make an appeal to the Minister of the day not to have somebody deported. There were front-page headlines in various newspapers, including regional newspapers across the country, where campaigns had been mounted: "Please don't deport family X. They have been in school here for five or six years. They have lived in society. They are valued members. Please don't deport." Around 2020, post Covid, when the levels of those seeking asylum increased fivefold, the entire mood of the nation changed. Now people are saying "Deport, deport, deport, as quickly as you possibly can." I say that by way of illustration.

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