Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has obtained cabinet approval to draft new asylum legislation in Ireland, intended to modernize an outdated system. Proposed changes will enforce strict time limits for handling application and appeals processes, reducing waiting times significantly from as long as three years to three months for most cases. O'Callaghan stressed that the objective is to speed up proceedings and alleviate accommodation costs, despite criticism from social democrats who worry about the potential harshness of the new system. Overall, the focus remains on improved efficiency in processing asylum claims.
Mr. O'Callaghan emphasized the necessity of expediting the asylum process, stating, 'The purpose of the legislation that I'm introducing is to speed up the process.'
The implementation of strict time limits for applications means that processing could take between two to six months, significantly less than the current three-year wait.
Critics like TD Gary Gannon argue that the rush to process asylum applications may lead to a system that is unduly harsh.
Mr. O'Callaghan rebutted the concerns, asserting, 'I don't think it will be cruel. In fact, what I think is cruel is for somebody to be in the asylum process.'
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