Seanad debates

Thursday, 4 July 2019

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Fintan WarfieldFintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise a specific case, that of a 19 year old LGBT asylum seeker whose application for asylum based on his LGBT identity was rejected by the international protection officer at the Department of Justice and Equality. The decision was posted on social media on Tuesday by MASI, Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, and I encourage other Members to read it. It is the assertion made by the international protection officer. When asked if he was familiar with the Zimbabwean LGBT group GALZ, the applicant responded that he did not attend its services. When asked why he had not sought its support, he responded by saying he felt more comfortable talking to his mum about it. He also stated why he had not sought the help of support services in Ireland - he was trying to focus on his leaving certificate examinations. The Department also asked whether he had ever been in a same sex relationship and, if not, why not. He stated he was being bullied in schools because he was gay. The Department concluded in its report that his contention that he was gay "is not credible". Notwithstanding the fact that the State would never engage in that line of questioning or anything close to it with a heterosexual, the line of questioning used was insensitive, invasive, unnecessary and problematic. We should consider that most Irish LGBT teenagers would not meet the burden of proof required by the Department. I certainly would not have met it as a young teenager. If the Department and the Minister want to march in the Dublin Pride parade, they should be honest and address this concern head on. I hope that in the new term we can have a frank debate in this House on how we treat those seeking asylum, especially those who are LGBT.

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