Visa appeal timeframe 'prevents' trip, says GAA Palestine

RTÉ News​

9 hours ago

GAA Palestine has said it has been told by the Department of Justice that a process to appeal the denial of visas for their trip this month would take an "indefinite amount of time" and so "effectively prevents" the team's scheduled trip to Ireland from going ahead.
A team of 33 children and 14 mentors were due to travel to Ireland for a summer tour this Friday 18 July, but were denied entry.
Last week, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration cited a lack of compliance to visa application criteria as reasons for denying the visas.
The GAA Palestine organisation said it would be appealing the decision.
However in a statement last night, it expressed "outrage" over the Department of Justice's handling of the issue, saying it was "profoundly disappointed" over its "refusal to facilitate" the trip.
It said that despite numerous attempts to engage, the department provided an appeals process that "guarantees the trip cannot proceed within the timeframe required".
"We requested the Department of Justice to engage directly with us to verify and provide assurance that all documentation was in order, but our efforts were met with silence," it said.
The organisation's executive travelled to Dublin to seek clarity and a resolution to the case, but said despite assurances from a secretary within the department that they would meet a senior officer, they instead received an email directing them to an appeals process.
"This process, we are told, will take an indefinite amount of time and effectively prevents the team from travelling on 18th July."
The organisation also said that it stands to lose €38,000 which was spent on tickets for flights to Ireland, while it considers alternative locations for a summer camp.
It has called on Irish authorities to reconsider their visa application and facilitate the team's trip.
The organisation's founder Stephen Redmond said they were "deeply disheartened and outraged".
"Despite providing all necessary documentation and engaging in good faith, we have been met with dismissiveness and an appeals process that, in reality, guarantees our trip will not happen. This is not just a logistical setback; it's a blatant disregard for fairness, transparency, and the spirit of sport that unites us all."
Mr Redmond said the organisation's executive will remain in Dublin and are hopeful that a resolution can be found.
"We genuinely want to come together and work constructively to remedy this situation. We are ready and available to engage in meaningful dialogue and to explore any options that might allow our players to participate," he said. "Our players deserve better, and we will continue to fight for their right to participate and showcase their talent."
In a statement, the department said it appreciated the decision to refuse the applications had caused disappointment, and added:
"These applications were given very careful consideration and the reasons for their refusal have been communicated in the decision letter.
"Each visa application is decided on its own merits. However, it is the case that the organisation of an event, no matter how good the intention, does not guarantee that a visa will be subsequently granted.
"Applications made on behalf of minors who are not travelling in the company of their parents must be supported with evidence that appropriate child protection measures are in place during the visit. In all cases, evidence of financial means, employment or other ties that indicate a person intends to return home are important criteria."
The department said the visa appeals process allows applicants to address any factors of the original refusal decision and have that application considered again.
The statement added: "No appeal has been received in this case and no new material has been submitted – any appeal received will be looked at immediately."