Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)

Our hearts are broken at the sight of Palestinian men, women and children being targeted and killed while queuing for food and drink. In the West Bank, families are forced to endure unprecedented levels of violence from the Israeli state and illegal settlers. The GAA in Palestine has been working with local clubs across Ireland to provide Palestinian children with much-needed respite from the trauma of war. This week, we received the heartbreaking news that the Department of justice had refused the visas to facilitate their trip to Ireland. This was devastating for the children, who were so looking forward to a trip to Ireland and a break from the atrocities in their own country. I know first hand the work that has gone into this by the community services in Fingal County Council and local GAA clubs, including Fingallians and O’Dwyers. They are deeply disheartened and outraged by the Department of justice’s outright refusal to allow these children to travel. I am pleading with the Taoiseach on behalf of the Palestinian children to use his office to ensure the visas are granted for them. Let them come to Ireland and play.

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