Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I have listened to his response and I commend the Irish refugee protection policy and programme. It is really good. I am part of a community sponsorship programme in St. Luke's myself. I am not sure, however, that the avenues the Minister has outlined will address the desperate situation faced by Lilav's family or that they will satisfy the 1,000 people in Clones who signed this petition. Part of my job today is to hand this petition to the Minister. Neither will these avenues help the Sido or Al Karajah families, which I mentioned. Jwan and Khalil Sido applied to have their family reunited with them in the safety of Ireland. They are entitled to be here. Their parents and two young brothers, both of whom are under 18, were accepted, but their sister Nermin, with whom they could not be closer, was refused because she was over the age of 18. Nermin Sido now remains separated from her family, languishing in Greece. The measures we have do not address that family's situation. Izzadeen Al Karajah, a Palestinian, is living with his wife and children in Cork, having been awarded protected status. He is, however, unable to bring his mother, who is ill, from Palestine. They have housing and he has recently opened a little café called Izz Café. His mother would not be a burden on the State. I ask the Minister to let the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 pass. It provides for nothing more than the right to apply for family reunification. It is a modest measure which puts matters on a clearer and firmer footing. I welcome any opportunity to meet the Minister on this matter, noting the Taoiseach's words and the Minister's own bona fides in this regard. This has not been properly heard by the Minister or the Department. I would like him to consider this and to think about the families whose cases I have raised today.