Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

This amendment is opposed. The period within which to make an appeal against a recommendation under section 12 of the Refugee Act 1996 is currently ten working days from the sending of the notice of the recommendation. In the case of a negative recommendation on an application investigated under section 11 of the 1996 Act it is 15 working days from the date of the notice of the recommendation, in other words, two and three full working weeks, respectively, with weekends and public holidays excluded.

An applicant is aware from the time he or she receives the information leaflet at the start of the process of the time limits involved. Nothing is hidden in that regard. I do not think the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees would jump for joy at the news that what was being advocated was that, notwithstanding the obvious lack of merit of a claim as established by an independent investigation, the further time and resources of an oral hearing were to be extended at appeal stage.