Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can only speak on my own behalf, on the work that has been done in recent years, and the huge efforts that have been made to try to address the increase in numbers. In the last two and a half years, the number of people working in the International Protection Office has more than doubled. We had given ourselves a target of 7,500 first instance decisions. Last year, we reached 9,000. We are on track to do even better this year but obviously that is against the backdrop of an increasing number of people seeking protection. We are now investing significantly in technology, making sure that where possible, applications are processed online. When the systems move online, that then frees up members of staff to be able to process, do interviews and make sure that the system works as effectively as possible.

While I cannot comment on previous decisions that were taken, what I can say now is that we are moving to a much more efficient and effective system. The measures in this pact are measures we should really be aiming for anyway. It is, of course, a challenge to make sure we get to the point where we can process everybody in two, three or six months but I think it is a goal we should be trying to reach.