Mr. Brian Purcell:

As I have indicated, the length of time persons stay in the system depends on a number of factors and it also depends on individual circumstances. In addition to others, the RIA accommodates persons who are involved in judicial review proceedings. They are persons who have applied for subsidiary protection. There are also those who have received deportation orders and are appealing against them. There are a number of steps in the process. The effect of all these steps is that it takes time and that, in turn, means they spend a longer time in the system.

The persons to whom the Deputy refers who spend a significant number of years within the system are generally those who go right through the process. I will not use the word "exhausted", but they go through steps. For example, sometimes there can be delays because after an individual has gone through every stage of the process, he or she then goes through the same steps for his or her children. This can result in - I hesitate to use the word - delays and increase the length of time they spend in the system.

It is a complex legal issue. I am not sure whether the Deputy was present when I spoke earlier, but we have a duty of care and must be scrupulously careful in the way we deal with these cases because of our obligations under international law.