Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Nadim Hussain is a 34-year-old man from India. He is from a Muslim background. In 2018, both of his parents were killed in anti-Muslim violence. Nadim came to Ireland. He currently lives in Cork city, at the Kinsale Road direct provision centre. Nadim worked all the way through the pandemic. He worked in a hospital as a security worker. He paid his taxes. Last month, Nadim received a letter from the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, which affirmed a recommendation of the international protection officer, which stated that he should be refused a declaration as a refugee along with subsidiary protection status. Nadim had provided certificates from his family's doctor concerning the death of his parents, along with a multiplicity of other documentation. Part of the problem is that Nadim has been unable to provide written documentation from the police outlining the details of the death of his parents. Anyone familiar with the question of anti-Muslim violence in India these days and the role of the state under the Modi Government will not be surprised by this. They would not expect someone to get certificates of that kind from the police. Someone knowledgeable about the situation would say that Nadim is being asked to clear an impossible hurdle. The appeal to remain is on the grounds that his life would be in danger were he to be deported back to India. He commenced a hunger strike last Thursday, taking liquids but refusing food. Tonight is the sixth night of his hunger strike.

As the Minister of State knows, physical and mental impairment can begin within two to three days of the commencement of a hunger strike. Nadim's GP has already expressed his concerns in this regard, particularly relating to his kidneys, even over the next couple of days. Despite this, there would be no justification for force-feeding this man, but he claims that energy drinks were force-fed to him by centre staff yesterday. A solution to this situation must be found on the basis of agreement. Is the Minister of State willing to talk to this man or to have a senior official from his Department do so? I would suggest that this should happen in the morning.

While I am on my feet, I also raise the case of the tiler, Raminder Singh. Raminder also lives in Cork. He is a Sikh from Punjab. His family has also been the victim of sectarian violence. He has a wife, Harinder Kaur, a daughter, Sandeep, aged 22, and two sons, Gursewak and Gurcharan, aged 20 and 18 respectively. Sandeep is studying to be a beautician and wants to start her own business. Gurcharan plays cricket for Cork County Cricket Club, and aspires to play for Ireland. Gursewak is a talented member of the Citadel music group. Like Nadim, they too are in danger of deportation back to India. The Singh family are well known in Cork. They made fantastic colourful masks during the pandemic, and distributed them on the main street, St. Patrick's Street, free of charge. A petition supporting their right to remain has been signed by more than 3,000 people so far.

I want to make some points about the direct provision system. I will do that in my supplementary question. My main question for the Minister of State is for a comment on this case and a request that he or a senior official from his Department would contact this man in the morning.

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