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.