Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2006
75 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of deportation orders of illegal immigrants to people refused refugee status or people who have transferred their application for asylum over the past ten years; the costs involved; the breakdown of such costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42096/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe deportation costs provided in the table refer to the deportation of either illegal immigrants, persons refused refugee status in the State or persons whose applications for asylum have been transferred to another country under the Dublin Convention/ Dublin II Regulations. The vast majority of the removals involved persons who were refused refugee status in the State.
Set out in the table are the yearly cost of removals of persons subject to either deportation or transfer orders since the commencement of the Immigration Act 1999 by scheduled/commercial and charter flights (including ferries in very limited circumstances for some Dublin II removals) for deportees/transferees and their Garda escorts.
|
Year |
Cost (Euros) of scheduled/commercial flight removals |
|
€ |
|
|
1999 |
27,355 |
|
2000 |
429,570 |
|
2001 |
1,080,604 |
|
2002 |
1,187,626 |
|
2003 |
1,569,813 |
|
2004 |
1,797,523 |
|
2005 |
1,725,745 |
|
2006 (to 31 October) |
1,267,605 |
|
Full total |
9,085,841 |
The figures do not include the cost of overtime or subsistence payments for Garda escorts but do include the cost of 24 charter flights since 2002 at a total cost of €3,435,273 Euro.
The deportation of illegal immigrants and refused asylum seekers is costly, particularly to distant countries such as Nigeria, China, etc. In most cases removals are carried out using commercial flights which usually involves transit through other European airports as Ireland does not have direct flights to most of the countries of return. In addition, most flights have to be booked at short notice very near the date of departure which involves higher costs than if booked well in advance.
Also, in considering the costs of deportations, the considerable expense arising from the continued presence in the State of persons who are the subject of deportation orders has to be taken into account. These costs include social welfare costs, direct provision costs, and detention costs in certain cases. While it is important to keep deportation costs to a minimum, not to remove persons refused permission to remain in the State would call into question the integrity of the entire immigration system. This would leave this country open to further illegal immigration and even more expense to taxpayers.
The total number of cases considered for deportation under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), since the commencement of the said Act and the results thereof are shown in Table A.
|
Year |
Number of deportation orders made |
Number of deportation orders effected |
|
1999 |
101 |
6 |
|
2000 |
940 |
188 |
|
2001 |
2,025 |
365 |
|
2002 |
2430 |
521 |
|
2003 |
2,411 |
591 |
|
2004 |
2,915 |
599 |
|
2005 |
1,899 |
396 |
|
2006(to 30 November) |
1,541 |
289 |
The majority of the cases referred to in the Table involve persons who claimed asylum but their claims were rejected.
The total number of persons considered for transfer pursuant to the provisions of the Dublin II Regulation and those removed are provided in Table B.
|
Year |
Dublin II Regulation Orders signed |
Dublin II Regulation Orders effected |
|
2004 |
238 |
65 |
|
2005 |
426 |
209 |
|
2006 (to 30 November) |
517 |
262 |
The total number of persons granted temporary leave to remain in the State are provided in Table C.
|
Year |
Leave to remain granted |
|
1999 |
38 |
|
2000 |
19 |
|
2001 |
77 |
|
2002 |
158 |
|
2003 |
86 |
|
2004 |
175 |
|
2005 |
137 |
|
2006 (to 30 November) |
148 |
My Department's records show that, at present, there are circa 7,700 persons represented as evading Deportation Orders or Dublin II Regulation Transfer Orders, whose whereabouts are unknown to the Garda National Immigration Bureau. However, it is believed that most of these have already left the State. If, however, it is the case that any of these persons are still in the State, their presence here is illegal and they are therefore subject to arrest and detention for the purposes of their removal from the State.
In a very significant number of cases, Deportation Orders have not been effected arising from challenges in the High Court by way of Judicial Review. There are, as of the end of November 2006, 476 ‘live' judicial review cases ongoing and the enforcement of Orders in these cases is generally suspended pending the outcome of such proceedings.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the enforcement of Deportation Orders is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
