Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I do not know whether the Minister has noticed but there are seven people outside the Dáil who have been there on hunger strike since Monday. After four days of no food, they are in a pretty bad way. They have faced abuse and threats daily from far-right activists, who have come here specifically to do that. I understand they are outside now. The seven are on hunger strike because they are afraid for their lives of being deported to South Africa.

South Africa is ranked among the top five most violent countries in the world; despite that, the Irish State has designated it as a so-called safe country. Ireland is one of only two countries in the EU to do so, which means it is easier to deport people to South Africa. Is any consideration given to the heightened dangers faced by LGBTQ+ people and HIV-positive people, in particular? They have told me they face a terrifying reality and say they have had knives pulled on them, been threatened with guns and been told outright they would be killed for being gay. It is completely unacceptable to tell these people that South Africa is a safe country. Will the Government act to remove South Africa’s designation as safe and, in particular and most immediately, will someone from the Department of Justice agree to meet the people on hunger strike to bring this to an end?

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