I welcome the opportunity this evening to discuss the International Protection Bill, which will make Ireland's asylum processing system fairer not only for those who wish to come here but also for those who are already here. Most of us in the Chamber can agree on the enormous benefits that migration brings to our country. The Ireland of 2026 is a diverse, multiethnic society where people can celebrate and share their cultures free from fear, and long may that last. The Ireland of 2026 has also bucked historic trends. It is no longer a place that people are forced to emigrate from due to conflicts, but a safe harbour for those fleeing global conflicts. We must all realise we have a duty to those who come to our shores seeking protection. At present, our asylum and international protection system is not adequately prepared to carry out this duty effectively. If a person comes to Ireland seeking international protection and is then faced with up to a year and half waiting before their application is decided upon, they are essentially left in an uneasy limbo. While applicants are languishing in a system that was not built to cope with today's demands, they are forced to build their futures on sand. The delays caused by this cumbersome process, in turn, do a disservice to us all. Last year, just over 13,000 people sought asylum in Ireland. While this was down on the figure for 2024, it was still substantially higher than the numbers arriving a decade ago. In the face of renewed pressures on our asylum-processing system, comprehensive change is required. The State can and must do better. With this Bill, I firmly believe it will. The Bill will bring Ireland in line with the European pact on migration and asylum, provide a firm, fair and consistent approach across the Continent, and streamline and speed up our current processes. A common approach, as envisaged in the migration and asylum pact, will reduce the pressure currently on our processing system by curbing the secondary movement of people through the EU. I also welcome the proposal for a new border procedure with a three-month time limit for decisions and new institutional arrangements for international protection decisions and appeals. Whereas, currently, people applying for international protection can expect to wait an average of 29 months to process through the system, these new procedures will bring that down to nine months, which is a marked improvement. Whether someone is granted asylum or not, this proposed system will let him or her get on with his or her life sooner rather than later. The State currently faces a cost of over €120,000 per applicant processed in the international protection system as it currently operates. However, the projected future costs based on the proposed streamlining measures will make that cost less than €50,000 per applicant, which is a 60% reduction in the current cost to the State. I am of the firm belief that this money is better spent building tomorrow rather than stalling today.

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