Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also asked for month-on-month figures. It is important to see whether there is a trend. Is the backlog getting bigger? That is what I hear at the Four Courts but it is anecdotal unless the Minister gives the figures. Only she and the Department have the figures but they are not giving them, which makes me a little bit suspicious.

Until now, the IPO and IPAT have been doing reasonably well. They are struggling but they are keeping pace with applications. It seems it is the Department of Justice directly that is not keeping pace with applications for permission to remain. If I am not mistaken, because we will not opt into the returns directive this will still be the case after the migration pact comes into being. We will still have to have our own returns procedure because we are not in Schengen and there will be permission to remain. What will change?