Martin: Asylum process must be shortened

Ireland’s legitimate right to check whether all asylum seeker application requests are genuine cannot be used as an excuse for the "unacceptable" length of time people are spending in the direct provision system.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin made the claim about the controversial policy — which was set up when he was in Cabinet in 2000 — after criticism of how it is damaging the lives of the 4,300 people, including 1,600 children, involved.

During a midweek debate on reforming the system, called for by Independent senators Ronan Mullen and Paul Bradford, Government senators were handed a coalition briefing document insisting any changes to the “not perfect” policy may result in Ireland being targeted by fake asylum seekers.