Olunkunle Eluhanla Deportation Press

PRESS RELEASE 23 March 2005

McDowell deliberately missing the point on Nigerian deportation issue say Greens
Gogarty and Cuffe urge Minister to reconsider on compassionate grounds

Dublin Mid West Green Party TD Paul Gogarty has accused Justice Minister Michael McDowell of 'splitting hairs' in the debate over whether deported Nigerian Leaving Certificate student Olenkunle Eluhanla should be allowed back to Ireland to complete his Leaving Certificate.

Deputy Gogarty, who represents the Palmerstown area, raised the issue in the Dáil yesterday along with his colleague, Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciaran Cuffe TD. He said that the Minister's response during last night's adjournment debate was wholly inadequate and that Kunle should be allowed back on compassionate grounds by any decent standards.

Deputy Gogarty stated, “During his reply to a number of deputies who raised Kunle's case, the Minister pointed to disputed facts such as whether or not he was wearing his school uniform or a tracksuit, whether or not he was 15 when he arrived here and whether or not he was beaten up on arrival in Lagos. This is spitting hairs. Minister McDowell is deliberately missing the point. The issue is not his refugee status or lack of it, the issue is that having put down roots in Ireland, having made friends, having almost completed his senior cycle education, Kunle has been forcibly removed to another jurisdiction.”

Deputy Cuffe said, “It is not good practice to allow foreign nationals who have experienced some form of trauma as a minor to spend three or more years in Ireland and then be uprooted to face an uncertain future. If the Minister is being logical in his argument he will concede that Kunle's case should have been processed within 12 months. However it is a cruel punishment to allow someone to set up a new life and then take it away again.”

Deputy Gogarty concluded that, “Deputy Cuffe and I reiterate our pleas to the Minister that at the very least, Kunle should be allowed back to Ireland so that he can complete his studies. This will not put the asylum system into chaos, but it will show that the Minister has a human side.”

Both deputes attended the protests outside the Dáil organised today by the students of Pobalscoil Iosalde and Residents against Racism.

ENDS/

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com