I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 90, inclusive, together.
The issue of asylum seekers and refugees is a matter, in the first instance, for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue.
Asylum seekers are not, generally, permitted to work here pending determination of their case by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Section 9(4)(f2>b) of the Refugee Act, 1996, provides that an applicant for refugee status may not enter employment during the period before the final determination of his or her application.
If the individual concerned should prove successful in his or her application for refugee status he or she will not then require a work permit to take up employment here.
In relation to work permits, the current processing period is approximately four weeks. In the last 12 month period March 2000 to February 2001 the statistics are as follows: