Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the magnitude of the task. Nonetheless, the size of the task ahead should not become a dominant factor or feature. It should be possible at this stage to make preparations, which would have to be made in any event. There is likely to be an upsurge in economic activity in the aftermath of the pandemic, which will result in applications for work permits and visas from abroad. These applicants must meet the skill requirements in this jurisdiction at a time when it is felt that the processing of the applications is a major issue insofar as filling the positions is concerned.

I wish to further ask the Minister about asylum seekers. I fully appreciate the size of the backlog. Notwithstanding all that, however, there is now an acceptance of the fact there is a backlog that will be there for some considerable time. How quickly can we overhaul that?

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