It currently takes an average of 19 months for asylum decisions to be made which is just plain daft.
19 focking months................
Department of Integration officials acknowledge that asylum arrivals will continue to rise over the coming 18 months. But it is hoped these numbers will level out once more streamlined processing times, which are set to be implemented as part of the EU pact, come into effect.
The pact focuses on tackling the secondary movement of asylum seekers, where a person moves from the first European country they enter to another, and applies for asylum.
At present, an estimated 50 to 70 per cent of international asylum seekers arriving in Ireland have travelled from another European country.
The pact’s border procedure will also aim to have asylum decisions made within 12 weeks regarding people who irregularly cross an EU border without documentation or through using false documentation, or who come from so-called “safe countries”.
Decisions on those who arrive in the State having already secured asylum in another European country will be made within two months. Those fleeing war, conflict or persecution will receive a decision on their case within six months, according to Department of Justice officials.
What is not to like?