The figure of 50,000 to 60,000 emigrants which the Minister referred to is not generally accepted; it is thought to be much higher by other groups in America.

Media estimates have put the figure much higher than that but the Central Statistics Office figures and data produced by the United States Immigration and Naturalisation Service indicate a true figure of 50,000 to 60,000 out-of-status Irish citizens. I would not like to say that my figure is definitely correct but the indicators to us show that it is propably nearer to the true figure than some of the figures being suggested by the media. We could argue but the Deputy knows full well that——

Nobody knows the answer.

Nobody really knows.

Let us deal with another question. Question No. 2.