Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry about that. I raised the case of the Hyde family recently. They moved to Australia and their application for permanent residency was denied because their child had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. That incredible decision was thankfully reversed as a result of a last minute intervention by the immigration Minister in Australia and the family will be allowed to remain after all. While that is a great outcome, certain concerns about the case remain. One is the media blackout about this case in Ireland. If Donald Trump's America had refused a visa to a child with cystic fibrosis, we would rightly be talking about it continually. I am concerned about what I see as the hands-off position taken by the Government on this issue. When I raised it as a Commencement matter, the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, said that it would not be possible for the Tánaiste to comment on the visa procedures applied by other sovereign states. That is a curious statement when we rightly, constantly, pass comment on American procedures and our Government rightly expends time, money and manpower on actively lobbying the Americans to change their visa procedures and laws. If one was a cynic, one would conclude that the Irish lobby in the US is large, well-funded and regularly wines and dines the leadership of the largest political parties. No such lobby exists in other countries.

I ask the Leader to agree that it is not acceptable for the State to take a hands-off approach to issues which affect its citizens, neither in ordinary situations nor a fortioriwhen there is a child with cystic fibrosis who, for a time, appeared to be at the receiving end of a harsh decision. As a State, our policy should be to assist the best possible outcomes for Irish families so that they can live, prosper and contribute to whatever society they want to live in, all things being equal. There should never be any discrimination on the grounds of a family member's disability of any kind.