Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Buckley for her opening remarks. I echo the Chair's comments on the horrible tragedy over the weekend. It is ironic that we are discussing such terrible events.

Ms Buckley indicated that the Department "will commence a review of progress made in reducing and improving process times." She noted that, based on the outcome of the review, the Department will decide whether additional measures are required "to ensure the new system can come into operation without the overhang of any significant number of legacy cases." For people outside the meeting, will Ms Buckley give a brief overview or example of a legacy case and why such cases take so long?

I understand we have to be realistic about waiting times. There was a backlog and I can definitely see the improvements. It is great that there is collaboration with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Obviously, collaboration is necessary but sometimes it does not happen. In some activities, we do not see joined-up thinking for a long time, which means things get lost and everything becomes more complicated. I congratulate the Departments on that collaboration.

Ms Buckley mentioned Afghanistan, extreme cases and so on. Is there harmony in respect of many of these troubled countries at the moment? How much harmony exists between the Department here and equivalent departments in other countries? I am using Afghanistan as an example; we could easily use Syria as an example as well.

While we are talking about this subject, it is important to say that it is not all bad news. Where I come from in east Cork, we have been fortunate, except during the recent impact of Covid-19, to have a food festival. We bring in all the people who have been helped by these processes to come over to Ireland. It is a wonderful way for them to showcase their food and different facets of their cultures and that helps us to understand where they come from, how proud they are and how they have integrated into society. There are great stories like that. I have had the opportunity at that festival to taste many different treats from many different countries around the world. I meet lovely people there over the two days of the festival.

Regarding the review in 2022, are the witnesses hopeful about getting additional resources?