Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I will try to deal with the issues raised without going into all of them in detail. This has been a lengthy and substantive debate. If I were to attempt to reply to everything to the extent I would like, we would be here until late this evening and I do not wish to do that.

Since taking up office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform I have been intent on pursuing policies on immigration and minorities in Ireland based on equality and respect. Such policies must also be sustainable and must command the support of the majority of Irish people. That has been my aim. It has required me to take steps such as mentioned earlier by Senator Brian Hayes in terms of invigorating the deportation process. If I did not do so simply because it is too much hassle in terms of negative media attention and so on, I would be playing into the hands of extremists who would exploit that fact to inflame Irish opinion.

As I said on the radio programme to which Senator Hayes referred, it gives me no pleasure whatsoever that people's dreams are broken, that they are rounded up at night to board aeroplanes to various parts of the world. It gives me no pleasure to do so especially in the context of young families. However, it is one of the duties of my job. Others have the luxury of not having to make such decisions. It is my duty to do so and I will do it.

The Members of this House should have regard to the "blacks" of the debate in this House rather than the text that was circulated, as there are significant differences between them.