Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

It is a reflection of the compassion this House shows that so many Members have expressed real concern about the plight of this young man. However, this is not the first case of its kind and sadly it will not be the last. It would be useful if the Leader of the House asked the Minister to clarify, as a matter of urgency, the circumstances under which this deportation took place. Many of us have been involved with these unfortunate cases and are aware that for too long the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has used a veil of silence whenever issues of this sort have been raised. The exact reasons for a deportation are never discovered and, instead, chapter and verse are quoted to anyone seeking answers.

Senator Bannon's linking of the valuable work representatives of the Government, irrespective of whichever party is in power, do during St. Patrick's week with our legitimate concerns about the undocumented Irish and the sad plight of a Nigerian boy was taking political comment too far.