Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)

I have had a few conversations with the Minister for justice and I acknowledge that he is trying to make changes. The reality, however, is that it is neither good for the person looking for asylum or good for the State if something is dragging on for six years. Those are the facts of the matter. Two years ago, I chased up on the question of how somebody is identified and we were told by the Garda at the time that the process was fool-proof. It has since been proved not to be fool-proof. We need to make sure, in relation to identification, that we know who is coming into the country. I welcome what the Taoiseach has said. We need a debate here. We need to tighten up and bring in new legislation in order that this does not drag on for four, five or six years. Accommodation-wise, we will not be able to sort it and, on top of that, as a country, we will not be able to afford the cost of it.

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