Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have a fair asylum system here and everyone’s asylum claim is assessed on its merit. I have been to South Africa myself. It is a vast country and there are different areas of it that one would consider safer than others. The designation of a safe country means that the applications are expedited. I encourage anyone on hunger strike – I do know there are people outside on hunger strike – to end it.

Their applications in Ireland will be processed, and processed fairly. Where anyone has any fear they are going to be persecuted on return to any country because of their race, gender or sexual orientation, that is absolutely taken into account. What we do not want as well is that people are doing their own health damage by that. I assume every one of those people has an asylum claim in, has been assigned a case worker and is engaging with the Department of Justice. I absolutely condemn any attacks they are experiencing. They should not happen. I assume An Garda Síochána is aware of it and we will raise that too. We will go through the normal channels. Where an applicant has made an asylum application, that will be processed, and processed fairly. I encourage those who are outside to trust in the system.

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