Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The effective right to work will result from the opt-in. I acknowledge what Senator Black has said in that regard. The opt-in process will guarantee that the new scheme will be required to be up and running within a period of four months. There was a common concern among Independent Senators that the short-term or transition measures, to which there has been so much reference in the course of the debate, would become long-term or more permanent. I assure Senators that will not be the case. We are continuing our preparations to ensure that the directive enters into full force at the earliest opportunity and as quickly as possible. A key part of this process, however, is the approval of the Seanad, without which we cannot proceed to notify our EU colleagues formally that we wish to participate in the directive. I say that particularly in response to the questions posed by Senator Ruane. Both the Minister of State, Deputy David Stanton, and I are committed to ensuring that our protection process is fit for purpose and that all applicants are treated in a humane manner and with the dignity they deserve while their applications are being decided upon.I also aim to reduce the case load on hand as quickly as possible to get to a point where a first instance decision is issued within nine months, as far as applicants are concerned. I ask Senators to approve our participation in the opt-in. I am happy to come back in the coming months while we are in the course of finalising our programme for opt-in to keep Senators informed of developments in the matter of progress.