Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

190. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the average time it takes to process applications for subsidiary protection; the plans there are in place to improve the waiting times for these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32612/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In relation to the determination of existing and future applications for subsidiary protection, the High Court Judgment in the MM case has had a very significant impact on the ability of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) to process such applications. Arising from this Judgment, the INIS, in conjunction with the Offices of the Attorney General, is working on the development of a framework, legislative and administrative, under which such applications will be determined into the future. Once the necessary legislative provisions have been completed, the new arrangements will be put into operation as soon as possible thereafter. This framework will also lay some of the foundations for what is proposed in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, which I hope to re-publish later this year, under which it is envisaged that applications for asylum, subsidiary protection and 'leave to remain' will be dealt with as a single procedure.

The legislative provisions referred to above are being given priority attention. Once the new arrangements are in place, steps will be taken to have all outstanding applications for subsidiary protection processed to completion in a timely manner.

The processing of an application for Subsidiary Protection is often extremely complex requiring detailed consideration of the individual merits of each case. In addition, cases can often be held up for a number of reasons such as legal proceedings. In other instances, for example where applications are made for EU Treaty Rights or under the Zambrano judgement, these applications will often be processed first. In the circumstances, mean waiting times for processing cases would be highly misleading and not reflective of the actual position having regard to the factors as outlined above which are often outside by Department's direct control.