Frances Fitzgerald to hurry asylum process

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said she will introduce procedures to speed up the controversial process which has seen asylum seekers spend years in direct provision centres while their applications for citizenship are vetted.

She said: “I want the most humane system possible that we can have in this country. We have a 40% increase in asylum seekers.

“In July this year we saw the highest number of asylum-seekers coming into the country since January 2011.