The State must make sure that failed asylum seekers must leave Ireland “much more quickly”, Simon Harris has said. 

The Taoiseach was speaking after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris yesterday - as CSO figures revealed immigration has hit a 17-year-high. 

Simon Harris said the asylum system needs to be sped up. 

“What Ireland needs to do is make sure it has the systems in place to properly process people, provide people who are seeking international protection with a yes or a no more quickly,” he said. 

“If it’s a yes, welcome them, integrate them, help them work in our economy where we desperately need people to work in some sectors. 

“If it’s a no, make sure they leave our jurisdiction much more quickly.” 

Tents erected along Dublin’s Grand Canal. Image: Barry Whyte/Newstalk

The Taoiseach stressed that immigration is necessary to fill job vacancies in many sectors in the economy but said the Government must so a “do a better job” planning for a growing population. 

“I wouldn’t fancy trying to run the public service today without the many people who are working in our hospitals from abroad,” he said. 

“I wouldn’t fancy trying to meet the housing challenge without the many people who are working on our building sites have come from abroad - or the hospitality sector as well. 

“So, let me be really clear - the Government needs to be able to plan for a growing population, of that, there’s no doubt.

“The Government I lead will now need to do a better job in terms of forward planning - preparing for population growth.” 

Almost 150,000 people immigrated to Ireland in the 12 months up to April this year.

Main image: The Taoiseach Simon Harris in the Courtyard at Government Buildings. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews