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Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘Let them play' – Protests at Croke Park as Palestinian children denied visas for GAA tour to Ireland
At 5.33 this evening a loud bang sounded from behind Hill 16 and a banner was unfurled in Croke Park's Upper Cusack Stand. It said 'Let Them Play', an appeal to the Irish Immigration Service who last week denied visa applications for a group of young Palestinian players and mentors ahead of a summer tour to Ireland.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Simon Harris defends controversial visa refusal for Palestine GAA kids
Tánaiste Simon Harris has defended the refusal of visas for children travelling from Palestine to play GAA in Ireland as he argued it is a 'child protection matter'. GAA Palestine had planned to bring in 33 Palestinian children and young teenagers to Ireland later this month for a tour, but were denied entry. They were to be accompanied by 14 mentors. The tour was scheduled to begin on 18 July, with more than 100 Irish families volunteering to host the Palestinian group, and numerous GAA clubs fundraising to support the visit. A spokesman for GAA Palestine said it was shocked by the decision of the Irish Immigration Service. It argued that it submitted comprehensive documentation, which included detailed plans for visits to various GAA clubs across Ireland, educational exchanges, and cultural activities as part of its application. In the Dáil, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty described the decision to reject the visa applications as 'cruel'. In response, Mr Harris said there were 'child protection issues' associated with the case. He said: 'We are not just talking about 33 children seeking to come to Ireland. We are also talking about a number of adults, almost all of whom are not the parents of any of the children. 'We have strict rules on migration and who can come into our country. It has to be a rules-based system. I do not want to go too far into the application. I am sure everyone is engaging in good faith. 'There is certainly not an effort by the State to seek to block or be difficult here. I am engaging in good faith on this too. There are rules and processes. There is an appeals process available.' Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney stated that GAA Palestine is 'adamant' that the paperwork is in order and argued that 'if this was a group of Israeli kids because the rules-based system has different rules for different groups they would enjoy visa-free travel here'. However, the Tánaiste denied the charge and once again insisted that the rules have to be followed. He continued: 'We are not tearing up our rules-based migration system. If God forbid anything happened to any child from any part of this country who came in here unaccompanied by a parent, the Minister would be hauled in here and asked what he did and why did he let it happen. 'Child protection matters. There is no short circuit. There is no round the back of the scrum. Do not dare do Israel versus Palestine. This is child protection. We have a visa system. We have rules on this.' A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said that 'each visa application is decided on its own merits'. 'Confirming that appropriate child protection requirements are in place is essential when considering visa applications for minors. This includes a requirement that a child is travelling with their parents or an appropriate guardian, which requires additional documents to be verified such as birth certificates and consent letters.' Steven Redmond, chairperson of GAA Palestine, said it is committed to working with the department to resolve the issue. He added: 'Seven days before these young boys and girls were meant to leave the West Bank, we are told that additional documentation is now required — documentation that was already provided or never previously requested or indicated as necessary. 'We went as far as sending a volunteer to the West Bank to assist with additional documentation that was requested as part of our application. 'Nonetheless, GAA Palestine remains committed to collaborating closely with the Department of Justice to resolve this matter swiftly. We have a dedicated team of volunteers ready to respond and take immediate action. 'We are fully prepared to see this process through. We kindly ask the Government to partner with us in making this happen.'
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Palestinian GAA club ask Government to help after children's visa applications refused
The organisers of a GAA club in the West Bank have said they are "deeply disappointed and shocked" by the decision from Irish immigration officials to deny visas for 47 Palestinian children and coaches set to tour Ireland next week. GAA Palestine was due to arrive in Ireland on Friday week for a tour of the island, which included stops in Dublin, Tipperary and Cork. However, those plans are now in doubt after the 47 applications were refused by the Irish Immigration Service on Wednesday morning. These included 33 children, aged between nine and 16 years of age, who have been learning hurling since January of last year. Letters sent by the Embassy of Ireland in the State of Israel to visa applicants said the application had been refused due to 'insufficient documentation". This claim is being disputed by GAA Palestine, however, which says the applicants had "fulfilled all requested requirements and provided all necessary documentation as per the application process". The GAA statement added: "We understand from letters sent by the Irish Embassy in Israel that the reason cited was a lack of detailed itineraries and financial arrangements — information that had been provided with the application. "In fact, GAA Palestine was under the impression that all necessary documentation and information had been provided and met the requirements for visa approval as stated by the Irish Embassy in Israel." Chairperson of GAA Palestine Steven Redmond said the club remained committed to bringing the children over for their tour. "Seven days before these young boys and girls were meant to leave the West Bank, we are told that additional documentation is now required — documentation that was already provided or never previously requested or indicated as necessary," he said. "We went as far as sending a volunteer to the West Bank to assist with additional documentation that was requested as part of our application. "Nonetheless, GAA Palestine remains committed to collaborating closely with the Department of Justice to resolve this matter swiftly. We have a dedicated team of volunteers ready to respond and take immediate action. We are fully prepared to see this process through. We kindly ask the Government to partner with us in making this happen. Volunteers across Ireland are "just utterly and completely devastated after all the work and effort", Mr Redmond added. "It's heartbreaking to see such a promising cultural exchange fall apart at the very last moment.' The tour was scheduled to begin on July 18, with more than 100 Irish families volunteering to host the Palestinian group, and numerous GAA clubs fundraising to support the visit. The cancellation is a "significant setback for all involved," Mr Redmond said. Speaking in the Dáíl, Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said the applications had been given "very careful consideration." He said: "A visa officer has to be satisfied that children are travelling under the company of their parents or an appropriate guardian. "Additional documents, such as birth certs, consent letters are regularly requested to establish the relationship." Mr Harris said an appeals process was under way in relation to the situation. Read More Hurling in Ramallah: How Palestinian children are getting to grips with GAA
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
GAA Palestine urges U-turn over visa refusal to Gaelic football players
GAA Palestine has called on the Department of Justice to reconsider its decision to refuse visas to a group of Gaelic football players from Palestine. The group, which had planned to bring in 33 Palestinian children and young teenagers, vowed to appeal against the decision and said the setback would not 'deter' them. Advertisement The team of children and 14 of their mentors were to travel to Ireland later this month for a tour, but were denied entry. The tour was scheduled to begin on July 18th, with more than 100 Irish families volunteering to host the Palestinian group, and numerous GAA clubs fundraising to support the visit. In a statement, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration said the visas were rejected due to a lack of compliance to visa application criteria. However, a spokesman for GAA Palestine said it was shocked by the decision of the Irish Immigration Service. Advertisement The ground said that it submitted comprehensive documentation, which included detailed plans for visits to various GAA clubs across Ireland, educational exchanges, and cultural activities as part of its application. 'Contrary to the information communicated in recent correspondence, Irish immigration officials have claimed that the visa applications were refused due to 'insufficient documentation',' the spokesman added. 'We understand from letters sent by the Irish Embassy in Israel that the reason cited was a lack of detailed itineraries and financial arrangements — information that had been provided with the application. 'In fact, GAA Palestine was under the impression that all necessary documentation and information had been provided and met the requirements for visa approval as stated by the Irish Embassy in Israel.' Advertisement Steven Redmond, chairperson of GAA Palestine, said it is committed to working with the department to resolve the issue. He added: 'Seven days before these young boys and girls were meant to leave the West Bank, we are told that additional documentation is now required — documentation that was already provided or never previously requested or indicated as necessary. 'We went as far as sending a volunteer to the West Bank to assist with additional documentation that was requested as part of our application. Tánaiste Simon Harris underlined that there are rules governing such moves (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA) 'Nonetheless, GAA Palestine remains committed to collaborating closely with the Department of Justice to resolve this matter swiftly. We have a dedicated team of volunteers ready to respond and take immediate action. Advertisement 'We are fully prepared to see this process through. We kindly ask the Government to partner with us in making this happen. 'Volunteers across Ireland are just utterly and completely devasted after all the work and effort put into making this tour happen. It's heartbreaking to see such a promising cultural exchange fall apart at the very last moment.' The event was set to promote cultural exchange, friendship, and mutual understanding. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris told the Dáil on Thursday: 'I would say, obviously, if there are, and I say this acknowledging that people have actually good faith and people are trying to do something good, we will share that view. Advertisement 'Obviously, there are rules in place in relation to visas, particularly when it comes to minors, particularly when it comes to minors not travelling with parents or guardians. There is an appeals process in place. 'I just make that point without overcoming any individual applications.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
GAA Palestine calls on Taoiseach to help with denial of visas
GAA Palestine's founder has called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to step in to prevent Palestinian children "being devastated" after a group of its players had their visas to Ireland denied. GAA Palestine has said it will "not give up hope" and is working to appeal the decision by the Irish Immigration Service to deny visa applications for a group of its players and mentors ahead of a summer tour. Its founder, Stephen Redmond said: "They are going to be devastated." A team of 33 children and 14 mentors were due to travel to Ireland for a summer tour, but have been denied entry. GAA Palestine had sought clarity on the status of their visa applications, and were due to arrive in Ireland on 18 July. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration cited a lack of compliance to visa application criteria as reasons for denying the visas. Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, he said that "something is stopping" the Palestinian children from coming to Ireland and that Palestinians are not being treated on a part with other nationalities and ethnic groups. "This is pioneering and historical event of support for the Palestinians," said Mr Redmond. "If they don't have us, who else do they really have?" 'They are depending on us' "They are depending on us," he said. "All they need is hope, and we have given them that hope". The club's founder said that they will battle until the very end and that this needs to be sorted by Monday in order for the children and volunteers to travel. Mr Redmond said that the club has given the children hope when others have failed, as they feel let down by the UN, human rights bodies and western institutions. He said that there is an alternative plan of setting up a GAA summer camp in Jordan if this plan falls through, but that it will not be the same. "It's a setback, but we will keep going and not give up hope." "They know Ireland is with them, and if Ireland lets them down at this stage, we become part of that shameful list of the last 77 years of failure entities," he said, adding that there is a sense that this can still be done. He said that children have been training for a year and there is "so much at stake". Mr Redmond said the organisation wants to start sending documents immediately to remedy the issue and have consent from the parents of the Palestinian children. He said they went as far as "sending a volunteer to the West Bank to assist with additional documentation". 'Phenomenal' support from across country Meanwhile, GAA Palestine international spokesperson Claire Liddy said the organisation were working on an appeal, after "phenomenal" support and offers of support and assistance from every corner of the island. Ms Liddy said they had no idea why they were denied, adding that they had been contacting the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv daily over the status of the visas, and that multiple documents had been received multiple times. She said that the embassy requested additional documentation, and they have received the documents multiple times and have had the documentation for weeks. However, she said the embassy is now saying the documents need to be issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was never communicated to GAA Palestine. 'People are devastated' "People are devastated. It's not looking good but we are fighting this," she said. "If the Palestinians have taught us anything, this was the beginning of a dream and we'll not let it stop us. "It's a setback, but we will keep going and not give up hope," she said, adding that people are heartbroken after the scale of work and effort that has gone in to the trip. The embassy never requested the vetting of the host families, she said, adding that this was done through the GAA and clubs. She said that most of the details mentioned in the refusal were to do with things they have either received already, were never asked for, or was never communicated. "We felt that we were being stonewalled, it was being delayed. We had the phones hung up on us several times by the office in Tel Aviv and we felt that there was something going on," she said. This was not an "isolated incident", she said, as GAA Palestine is in contact with other groups with proven track records of bringing Palestinian children to Ireland for years who have experienced the same issues. "We complied with everything they asked us for in the first stage, and then they came back and asked for additional documents, and then we had radio silence again and we asked them repeatedly if they had everything they need and they said they did." GAA Palestine 'deeply disappointed and shocked' GAA Palestine said in statement that it is "deeply disappointed and shocked" by the refusal of the visas. It said the visa applications, submitted in mid-May with "comprehensive documentation" included plans to visit GAA clubs across Ireland, educational exchanges and cultural activities. It said all applicants, 33 children aged between nine and 16 years had "fulfilled all requested documentation". "We understand from letters sent by the Irish Embassy in Israel that the reason cited [for refusing the visas] was a lack of detailed itineraries and financial arrangements - information that had been provided with the application," it added. In its statement last night, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration said that each application is decided on its own merits. Confirming that appropriate child protection requirements are in place is essential when considering visa applications for minors, the statement said. "This includes a requirement that a child is travelling with their parents or an appropriate guardian, which requires additional documents to be verified such as birth certificates and consent letters. "In adult cases, evidence of financial means, employment or other ties that indicate a person intends to return home are important criteria. "These help to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland, and that they will comply with the conditions of a short-term visa. "An application will be refused if it cannot demonstrate compliance with such conditions.
