Student Visas Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-22 ============================================================ Aubrey McCarthy (IND), University of Dublin This morning I went to the dentist as I had to get a filling. He gave me an injection. It did not work therefore he gave me three injections so I am half paralysed on my face. He assured me that even an anaesthetic will not shut up a Senator so I will give it my best shot. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important matter. I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Palestinian ambassador, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, intended to be present but something came up. However, in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, we have Dr. Emma Stokes, who has certainly worked hard on the Palestinian student visa issue, and my colleague, Cillian Walsh, who also is passionate about this issue. As a university Senator, I am seeking clarity from the Minister for justice on the significant increase in refusals of long-stay student visas for Palestinian nationals, particularly those from Gaza, during 2026. At present, 58 students from Gaza, who have secured their places in higher education institutions and have full practical and financial supports in place, have been refused visas. Of those, 28 hold full university scholarships while others have equivalent support through donors, family sponsorships, fee waivers and other arrangements. It is particularly concerning that 12 recipients of the Government of Ireland scholarships and Ireland-Palestine scholarship programme have been granted visas, while many others with similar or even stronger supports have been refused. These students are attempting to leave a war-torn area to pursue education in safety and their circumstances cannot be compared with those of other international students applying from stable jurisdictions. Yet, they appear to be assessed through the same process. Irish universities and colleges have worked to meet their obligations under our international commitments regarding displaced students and the recognition of the qualifications, however, many of the students are now facing appeals and that can take up to a year. Effectively, that denies them the opportunity of studying in the present academic year. I have three questions to put to the Minister of State. First, what explains the very significant increase in refusals of Palestinian student visas between 2025 and 2026? In 2025 there were 25 refusals and in 2026 there have been 115 refusals. Second, will the Minister of State examine whether applications from Gaza require a more appropriate approach to documentation and evidence that recognises the extraordinary circumstances in which the students who have got their scholarships are living presently? Third, and perhaps most urgently, will the Minister of State examine a way of expediting the process for appeals so that the fully funded students, whose courses have already commenced or are about to commence, can know the result of their appeals? These are young people who have their whole lives ahead of them and they have earned their university places. They have scholarships and accommodation and they have financial support. I know from talking to the various institutions – Dr. Emma Stokes has worked with Trinity College for years – that the institutions are waiting to welcome them. We can do so much more in this regard. I thank the Minister of State. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-22/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:49+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-09-22