Asylum seekers - System is far too slow

THERE have been suggestions that Ireland is deliberately slow in processing applications from those who seek refugee status.

Equally, there have been suggestions that the legal process, with appeal after appeal, is too drawn-out.

The Government has made only 14 positive recommendations to grant refugee status out of 1,014 cases this year.

New figures that show a third of the 6,246 people living in direct provision accommodation are under 18 give a new urgency to making it possible to reach a final decision on individual cases – one way or the other. The current situation is a cruel limbo and serves no one’s best interests.