Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Brazilian authorities were allowed to treat Killester United Football Club in such an appalling manner [38313/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs learned on the morning of Monday 11 October that a group of 31 Irish citizens, including members of the Killester United Football Club, had been refused entry to Brazil by the Immigration authorities at Sao Paolo. Having been advised of the problem at immigration, our Embassy in Brazil immediately contacted the Immigration service in Sao Paulo to ascertain why this group had been refused entry. The Embassy was informed by the Brazilian authorities that the decision to refuse entry was based on an alleged incident involving two members of the group and two Brazilian citizens during the Iberia flight from Madrid to Sao Paulo. It is understood that on landing in Sao Paulo, the Brazilian citizens lodged a formal complaint with the Military Police at the airport who are responsible for immigration control and that this complaint was verified by a number of other passengers on the flight. The Embassy was informed that the decision to refuse entry was based on this complaint and its subsequent verification.

The Embassy made representations on behalf of the group to the Immigration authorities in both Sao Paulo and Brasilia and also made contact with the Brazilian Ministry for Foreign Affairs to seek assistance to resolve the issue. The Embassy sought to secure entry to Brazil, at the very least for those members of the group not directly related to the alleged incident. I am informed that our Embassy received support in this regard from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, their advice and the Embassy's requests were not accepted by the Immigration authorities and the original decision was upheld.

The group, having been refused entry, were obliged to leave Brazil (they were not deported), and returned to Ireland via Madrid.

As I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate, the application of Brazilian immigration law is a matter for the Brazilian authorities. Nevertheless, the Embassy subsequently wrote to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to indicate that, while respecting their right of the Brazilian authorities to refuse entry to those who may have been involved in the alleged incident, the Embassy nevertheless wished to express our concern at the decision to refuse entry to the remainder of the travelling party.