asked the Minister for Justice if his Department have an estimate as to the approximate number of illegal aliens who are living in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Illegal Aliens.
47.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that in their view the number of illegal aliens in the State would be in the region of 5,000.
I must stress that this figure is not really an estimate. Since there is no control on entry to the State from Great Britain and Northern Ireland and since an illegal alien includes, by definition, a person who has failed to bring himself to notice as required by the Aliens law, it follows that it is not practicable to obtain reliable information relating to the number of such persons in the State at any time.
Where the presence of an illegal alien comes to notice and he is refused permission to remain in the State, he is in the first instance instructed to leave. Failure to comply can lead to a prosecution under the Aliens Act, 1936 or to deportation.