Opposition parties must come together to press the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, to regularise the status of families of Irish-born children facing deportation, the Labour Party's justice spokesman has said.
Mr Joe Costello, TD, was speaking at a protest outside the Department of Health yesterday against the deportation of the families of Irish-born children. He called for the establishment of an Oireachtas committee to press this case when the Dáil reconvenes next month.
Yesterday's protest, attended at short notice by about 20 people, was called in response to the deportation last week of 25 Nigerians, along with three Irish-born children.
One of those deported, Ms Angel Aduba, was unable to bring her 19-month-old son, Somtom, with her. Accounts of why he was not on the flight differ.
Mr Costello said the current situation should be grasped as an opportunity. Up to 10,000 people face deportation since the January 2003 Supreme Court judgment that non-EU parents of Irish children were not automatically entitled to residency here.
Since the citizenship referendum had been passed in June, Mr Costello said, the Minister must introduce legislation and should take the opportunity to regularise the 10,000 people living in "legal limbo".
"A serious campaign should now be put in place, from within the Dáil and in alliance with trade unions and community groups, to press to see the situation dealt with."
Mr Finian McGrath, TD (Ind), described the "silence of the Fianna Fáil and of so-called liberal PD backbenchers and of Fine Gael on this issue" as appalling. He echoed the call for a concerted effort against the deportation of Irish children's families.
Mr Mick O'Reilly, of the ATGWU, said he was "appalled at the way the deportations took place last week, and in particular at their impact on children".
He added: "The whole trade union movement should become involved in this. We have to stand up to racism, and not run away from it. If we run away from it, it will get worse."
Mr Ciarán Cuffe, TD (Green Party), said it was "not good enough for Ireland in the 21st century" to deport the families of Irish children, while Cllr Daithí Doolan (Sinn Féin) said such deportations "must stop immediately".
Ms Ronit Lentin, spokeswoman for the Coalition Against the Deportation of Irish Children reiterated CADIC's call for the regularisation of this group of families and for free legal aid for them.
