Is there any way to speed up PL/TCL functions?

I'm using some PL/TCL functions and triggers to do some special inserts.  When
I do an insert that uses these procedures, I get the "INSERT xxxxxx 1" response
back immediately, but then there is a pause before the next query is executed.
It appears as if the PL/TCL runs fast but after its finished it has to spend a
significant amount of time cleaning up before the next query can run.

Is this the way it is?  Any way to reduce this pause?

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            - Robert