John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens who are awaiting deportation from the US; the circumstances of each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27859/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens who have been deported from the United States for each of the years from 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27860/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together.

My Department is aware of two Irish nationals awaiting deportation from the United States. These people are currently being held by the US authorities and are being provided with consular assistance by the Consulates in New York and San Francisco. The US Department of Homeland Security advises that there were 446 Irish nationals deported from the United States between 1997 and 2005. Of these, 302 are, we believe, likely to have arisen from immigration offences. To date in 2006 the Department is aware of 16 Irish nationals who have been deported from the US. I would like to stress that there is no evidence of any particular targeting of the Irish undocumented in the US. I should also emphasise that the Embassy in Washington and our network of Consulates are, of course, available to offer assistance in all consular cases.