Mr. Ted Neville:

The Deputy raises an interesting situation. There is undoubtedly huge inefficiency, leading to a protracted process, and we hear regularly from asylum seekers who have been in the system for many years. The facts are not regularly stated but I will try to do so. The first stage in the process whereby an asylum seeker tries to remain in the country is to make an application for asylum and, on foot of the result of the application, he or she may appeal. It should be better known that the average time for processing the initial application is approximately 18 or 19 weeks, and the average time for the processing of the second stage - the appeal - is approximately 13 to 16 weeks. Cumulatively, this comes to no more than six months, by which stage every asylum seeker has received an answer from the State as to the legitimacy of their asylum application. It is often claimed that people are languishing in Mosney or Hatch Hall for 11 years without an answer, but they have their answer. They just did not like the answer, but so be it. It is the State's duty to provide those answers.

Having got their answer, asylum seekers do not lack clarification as to their position, but the remainder of the process, the finalisation of the case, is incredibly inefficient, and in this period these people have children and become part of the community, and local people feel they should stay. The State should be far more efficient in processing the stages subsequent to the first two. It is now doing this quite efficiently by managing it within six months. We have to give these people an answer more quickly. If the answer is "Yes," they stay; if it is "No," they go. At the moment it is a system which is easy to play out. Seán Aylward, the former Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality, has said that asylum seekers will fight up to the steps of the aeroplane.

Why would they not do so if they want to stay here? Anyway, they do that and they have succeeded in doing that for prolonged periods at great cost to the State. It is rarely mentioned how great the cost to the State is. In any Dáil term, €1.5 billion supports the entire asylum operation. It is extremely expensive. It should be far more efficient and streamlined. If people get their answer, they should take their answer. Then the country should, in conscience, enforce the answer; it has a duty to its citizens.