The Dáil has heard an appeal for the Government to “relent” and allow almost a dozen students from Gaza to remain in Ireland, rather than forcing them to return home to “carnage”.
“I’ll find out what’s happening and get it sorted,” Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin responded, after appealing for “a bit of fair play” on the issue.
“There are at least 11 students from Gaza on a scholarship programme” in Ireland, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), who are being forced to leave, Solidarity-PBP TD Bríd Smith said.
“Given we’re flying flags and recognising the state, the very least we could do is extend a bit of compassion” to them, she suggested.
“They have been written to and told, ‘you either go back to where you came from, or you go somewhere else’,” the deputy added.
Students on similar scholarships from other parts of the world are allowed to remain in Ireland for two years after they have completed the scheme in order to get work experience, Ms Smith noted.
The Tánaiste said that Ms Smith tends to be both “very accusatory” and “negative”, and appealed for “a bit of fair play”.
“Your tone there is wrong,” he said, insisting that both he and the DFA have been very supportive “in respect of fellowships for students from Palestine”.
Mr Martin said he does not know the specific details – as the deputy had not flagged the issue with him before now – but he said that he will “intervene and see what’s going on”.
“But I would be sure that there is no intention to send anyone back into Gaza now,” he said.
