Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

Many people have described the denial of visas for those 33 children from Palestine as "cruel". That is a fitting word. These are children who have been learning to play GAA for the past year. They have been looking forward to this trip, this escape from Israeli occupation and oppression. The organisation said it has done everything it can. It provided more documentation than ever before. It provided it in ample time. A week before these kids were supposed to land, they have had this hammer blow. I am not interested in a tit for tat on who said what or who did what but, surely to God, this can be resolved. We are talking about 33 Palestinian children. We are talking about children living under an occupation and living under oppression. These are kids who have had a hurley in their hands for the last wee while and want to come over here. There are more than 150 families ready to welcome them into their homes and hearts. Surely to God, we can resolve this. There is still time to resolve it. I ask the Tánaiste to move the machinery of government to make sure assistance is provided and all of the things are done to make sure those kids are able to travel here and enjoy our national games.

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