Processing of asylum applications needs to be sped up – Cllr McDonald

Applications for those seeking asylum in Ireland should be sped up.

This was the opinion expressed by Sinn Féin Councillor Paddy McDonald at April meeting of Cavan County Council earlier this month.

Addressing the meeting, Cllr McDonald stated that more people need to be employed to aid in the application process.

He contended there is a “situation in this country where international protection applicants are waiting years, sometimes over a decade, for their claims to be processed".

Meanwhile, he highlighted “massive skill shortages” in the country, which some international asylum seekers could help to address.

Cllr McDonald requested a letter be written to the Minister for Justice, for an update on the employment of staff to “speed up asylum applications”.

Supporting his motion, Fine Gael Councillor T.P. O’Reilly stated there is an “array of knowledgeable and competent people” who have arrived from Ireland internationally, whom he thinks should “take up jobs”.

The council agreed to send a letter to Minister for Justice, Simon Harris.