Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times.

The deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. A person subject to a Deportation Order has no legal basis to remain in the State. Their case to remain in the State has been considered in detail and all available appeals processes have been exhausted.

Persons who have sought International Protection, many but not all of whom reside in the Direct Provision system, are only subject to a deportation order when they have either not engaged with the application process or their case has been considered in detail and all available appeals processes have been exhausted.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out of such deportations. However, the numbers of Deportation Orders effected by GNIB does not take account of individuals who have left the State without informing my Department. It is the case that many individuals who are subject to Deportation Orders leave the State without notifying the relevant authorities and this particular category of individual is difficult to quantify.

While data on the number of individuals who were issued deportation orders but remain in Direct Provision is not collated by my Department in the manner requested, there is close engagement between my Department, the International Protection Accommodation Service of DCEDIY and An Garda Síochána to support the effecting of removals.