Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the real world is not in the IPO. The real world is that experienced by the asylum seekers who must live under the system in this State. That is appalling. For people to have to spend as long as they have spent trying to get their cases heard is wrong. It is important that we put the words of the people concerned on the record. One said, "I came to Ireland to seek to protection, my problems are not listen[ed to] for 22 months". Another said, "I am so depressed and frustrated since I don't have a legal stay here and have never had any interview since 2019 up to date." That is the reality of the situation with which people are living under the system.

I urge the Minister of State to take on board the report launched yesterday by the Refugee Council, Hanging on a Thread. The report makes recommendations as to how the processing of applications can be improved. I ask him to take those recommendations on board and implement them to speed up and streamline the process because it needs it badly.

See this speech in context