Communications 'breakdown' may have contributed to 418% hike in refusals of Palestinian study visas

Taoiseach's claim had been disputed by lawyers representing applicants

Last week, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik claimed there had been 'a new rightward turn' under justice minister Jim O’Callaghan.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said a communications breakdown may have contributed to a 418% increase in refusals of study visas to Palestinians in the past year.

This claim was disputed by lawyers representing some of the applicants.

Department of Justice figures show that in 2025, Ireland refused 22 out of 164 long-stay study visa requests from Palestine, representing a 13% refusal rate, while this year, 114 of 138 were refused, or 83%.

Year-on-year, refusals of study visas to Palestinian students increased by 418%.

Most of the students had been granted fully-funded scholarships at Irish third- level institutions and had been due to begin their courses in September.

Many were refused for insufficient documentation of past education or work qualifications, with no apparent allowance made for three years of Israeli bombardment obliterating Gazan civilian infrastructure.

Several of those refused visas have lodged appeals, with four judicial review applications before the High Court this week.

Last week, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik claimed there had been “a new rightward turn” under justice minister Jim O’Callaghan.

Mr Martin told the Irish Examiner that the Department of Foreign Affairs has for several years invested in education in Gaza and the West Bank, bringing young Palestinians into Ireland’s university system.

“It seems to me there was a breakdown between the university sector and the Department of Justice in respect of quite a number of those who apply, that’s my understanding, and I have spoken with the minister for justice about it,” he said.

“Meetings are now taking place between the universities and the department to make sure that there’s a proper, programmed, structured way of facilitating students from Gaza.

“The minister for justice said to me that these were individual applications that came in, it seems, and whereas in the Department of Foreign Affairs there’s a more structured model.”

Lawyers for some of the students suggest the increase in refusals may be because the Department of Justice now processes applications, whereas previously the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv had done so.

Mr Martin said it was his understanding that the embassy had processed scholarships sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“This is what the Department of Justice is saying, and I continue to have discussions with the minister.

“We do have to know the background of people coming into the country as well,” he said.

Cork-based solicitor Susan Doyle, who represents several students, said she had seen student visa applications from 2025 approved and identical applications from 2026 refused.

“We have been given no clarity from the Department of Justice about what has changed and why this new approach has been taken. It is absolutely devastating for the students,” she said.

Sinéad Marmion, a partner in Phoenix Law, also represents several students.

She said it was “unfair” to say there had been a breakdown in communications between the universities and the Department of Justice.

“Moving processing to the Department of Justice has resulted in an extraordinary increase in refusal decisions based on precisely the same process,” she said.

“The numbers speak for themselves.”