Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last Friday, Malik Amir Iqbal was one of several people across the country to be advised of the rejection of their appeals for leave to remain in the country. Mr. Iqbal has lived in direct provision for almost five years and in Longford town for several of those years. During that time, he has endeared himself to the local community and excelled in the arts through the medium of dance. Through the local Backstage Theatre, the Cruthú Arts Festival and many other local groups, this man has made countless friends. An extensive appeal in support of this affable man's application for a right to remain with us represents easily the most comprehensive case I have seen submitted on behalf of anyone in support of a right to remain in the country. It includes letters of support from high-profile names such as that of the actor Stephen Rea but also, perhaps more importantly, letters from local people such as our county librarian, Mary Carleton-Reynolds, and our local priest, Fr. James McKiernan. All of these letters show beyond any shred of doubt that this man has become an intrinsic part of the local community in Longford and of the national arts scene.

Mr. Iqbal is a popular dancer who has featured on the stage of the Abbey Theatre with his good friend, Vicky Khokhar, a fully trained and qualified emergency room nurse who, like Mr. Iqbal, lived in direct provision for several years. It is ironic that the two men were part of a dance troupe on our national stage literally hours before Mr. Khokhar voluntarily left the country under the threat of deportation. There are so many people who do not want Mr. Iqbal to face a similar fate. When are we going to stop forcing good people who want to contribute positively to our society to leave our country?

It does not seem right that Mr. Iqbal has waited 19 months for a decision on his appeal to then be given only five days to leave the country at the height of a pandemic. Perhaps there is a legal requirement that explains why the notifications had to issue last Friday but I appeal to the Minister of State to intervene and to defer the matter for further consideration, certainly until such time as the extensive case in support of Mr. Iqbal has been fully assessed.

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