Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

At the outset I accept that ORAC and RAT have dramatically improved the processing of applications. Is it not the case that we have approximately 7,000 asylum seekers in the system currently, with the number varying between 7,000 and 8,000?

The Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, have indicated that a significant part of the delay is the judicial review element. Will the Minister sit down and have a cup of coffee with the President of the High Court and propose to him the introduction of a special arrangement for the month of September to process the outstanding cases before the courts regarding judicial review? There are approximately 700 before the courts and if 15 High Court judges sat during September, the backlog would be virtually cleared.

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