Cónal Thomas

policy for the next 10 years.

And your department recently confirmed, in fact, though, to the PAC that the state is being sued by private commercial providers.

I believe in five cases, two of them settled.

And as we move towards, say, unwinding the Ukrainian supports, are you anticipating more cases, more legal cases against the state from commercial operators?

Explain to me just for a minute before we get on to the Ukrainians, though, because

You're designing the migration strategy, obviously, to come into effect alongside or roughly around the same time, I suppose, the EU-wide asylum pact, which is kind of an overhaul, let's face it.

Now, some things that have been mooted within that pact are quite controversial.

So can you just explain to our listeners around what you might call these proposed detention centres to hold people who might be here legally?

Are we going to see them and where are they going to be?

Just on that, Assistant Minister, can you clarify a little bit what those payments might look like?

I mean, are there sums to set people up back home or just incentivise them back to Ukraine out of Ireland?

Do you have a figure in mind either for how much of a contribution or how many people you might want to see return?

You mentioned a decision and it's my understanding that this was due to go to Cabinet this week but was pulled.

What happened?

Were there tensions at Cabinet?

Is the Taoiseach harbour concerns around this plan?

There have been well-aired recruitment and retention issues in the Gardaí for many years now, Minister.

I mean, the Social Democrats, in fact, went as far to say last week that you have opted instead for platitudes and sane bites on the issue.

So what's your response to that?

And what is the figure that you want to see in this year's budget in terms of extra Gardaí?