Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very eager to expedite this. I have responded to the Department of Justice and Equality on this issue. It recognises that it is an issue. I acknowledge that other countries do not necessarily have the same problems and have already granted this particular avenue. I will ask my officials to engage urgently with the Department of Justice and Equality on this matter with a view to resolving the problem that has rightly been identified by the Deputy. There is a need to look at it not only as it applies to normal residency, but also as it applies after asylum has been refused. In addition, the problems of identification are thorny and difficult ones. As the Deputy will be aware, the legislative process is slow but there are ways for us to hurry it up. Obviously, our approach will be subject to the advice of the Office of the Attorney General, which has the potential to look very thoroughly at an issue of this sort. Although we might want to hurry up the legislative process, we need to ensure the law that is introduced is robust.

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