Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

It seems mealy-mouthed in the extreme to call it a genocide when, as one of the richest countries in the world, with a massive budget surplus and health service, a basic thing we could do is to treat some of these children who have suffered the most appalling treatment. They are now being checked repeatedly to ensure that only one person is coming with them. This is terrible.

Why is this GAA club facing these barriers? The Tánaiste cited child protection. The GAA itself has comprehensive child protection rules. We opened up for American Football and all sorts of other things in recent times. These children are coming to participate in a well-known institution in this country. They are coming to visit Croke Park and play matches but their visas are being stalled. From speaking on, and listening to, the radio, we know they would have complied with all of the requests.

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