Shepherd Machaya deportation case
Richard Boyd Barrett raised the threatened deportation of Shepherd Machaya and argued it contradicted the Government's promised compassion toward asylum seekers. The Justice Minister refused to discuss the file but said each case is carefully considered; Boyd Barrett and Catherine Connolly then pressed another related child-welfare report, which the Taoiseach said he would follow up in writing.
In its programme for Government, the Government promised a humanitarian response to asylum seekers, committed to making Ireland a safe haven for those fleeing from violence, and said it would promote the integration of migrants in this country. The deportation order for Shepherd Machaya is anything but compassionate. He has lived nine years in direct provision, a pretty awful system, but he made an effort to secure a FETAC level 5 qualification before going to DCU, where he completed his first year with flying colours, but now he is being threatened with deportation. Some 13,000 friends, fellow students, the students' union, and DCU, which is a university of sanctuary, are all pleading with the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and the Government to be compassionate and humanitarian and to revoke that order to allow Shepherd Machaya to remain here, finish his studies and contribute to Irish society. I do not understand why the Minister would throw out somebody who is studying IT systems and business management when he could contribute to Irish society. I also wish to mention Eric Zhi Ying Xue from Bray, a nine year old who has lived all his life here. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister to show compassion for these two people.
Comment on this
I do not intend to depart from the time-honoured tradition of not discussing the detail of case files on the floor of Dáil Éireann. However, I remind the Deputy that each and every case is given due and careful consideration over a range of circumstances, including age, length of time, family circumstances and family connections with the State.
Having regard to applications for citizenship, international protection and visas, agencies within my Department deal with in excess of 250,000 cases on an annual basis. Of those, I wish to assure the House that only a tiny fraction are subject to deportation orders at the end of a lengthy process.
Comment on this
In February 2016, the national review panel-----
Comment on this
The Minister will not revoke it.
Comment on this
-----was asked to examine and report on the abuse suffered by young children in foster care in east Galway, near Tuam. It is now October 2018 and we still have not had sight of the report. I understand from replies to parliamentary questions that the report was due out this month. It is almost the end of the month now. Given what happened to those children, the exposé on RTE, and the abuse suffered, can the Taoiseach please confirm that the report has been completed, that it will be published and that we can have a copy of it?
