Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for taking time to be here this afternoon for this conversation. It is very welcome to have a very open conversation about it. I acknowledge the good work of the Minister of State and that of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, in the area of immigration. It is also important for me to acknowledge the work that the former Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, undertook while this area was under the aegis of his Department. I welcome the transfer of it from the Department of equality, as I would call it, to the Department of justice.

I acknowledge the clarity and transparency that the Minister of State has brought to immigration. Now we can have an open and honest debate because there is a real understanding from the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. I have just left the committee. I welcome the transparency that the Minister has brought to it. I welcome the fact that the renegotiation of all the contracts is taking place. It is fantastic to see that 100 contracts have been renegotiated and €46 million has been saved since the Minister of State and the Minister came into office.

I also want to speak about the fact that 5,000 people who have citizen status currently reside in what we would call IPAS centres. Those people need to be accommodated within our own housing for the simple reason that, if we are to bring efficiency to the system, we have to ensure that those who can remain and those who must be deported are in very condensed areas.

Earlier, the Minister said that deportation orders for 3,129 people have been signed since he and the Minister of State have come into office. Of those, 1,159 have left the State voluntarily and 278 orders have been enforced. I was really amazed by the number of instances of doorstepping at Dublin Airport of 4,154. Let us be clear and transparent. We think that everyone who comes in is being processed. That is 4,154 who were actually dealt with at Dublin Airport. The most staggering figure that I found out at the committee this afternoon was that 87% of people make their applications to the international protection office here in Dublin. That in itself is telling. They are not presenting at the airport or at the ports. One would have to question or just work out where those individuals are arriving from. It would appear to be across the Border. I wish the Minister of State well in his work.