Dáil debates
Thursday, 10 July 2025
Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
6:25 am
Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
I wish to correct a comment the Tánaiste made earlier. Israeli citizens do not need a visa to enter Ireland to stay up to 90 days for tourism, visiting family or friends or attending business. In other words, there is apartheid operating in this country as well, whereby people in Palestine, which Israel considers part of Israel, need to jump through every hoop in the book to get into this country, whereas Israeli citizens do not. That is from the Department of justice. Those are the facts. The Tánaiste has the power. He is the Tánaiste and the Minister for foreign affairs. He can deliver this. I spoke to GAA Palestine this morning. It has hundreds of volunteers and will do whatever it takes between now and the weekend to get these children the visas they require. Let us be honest here. Does the Tánaiste have the will? Does he want to let these children come here? I remember going up to the Six Counties as a young fella to play hurling and football and I remember them coming to Cork to stay in my house and with my club, St. Vincent's. I remember what it was like. However, these 33 children-----
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