The Union of Students in Ireland

Lobbying Organisation The Union of Students in Ireland

Date published 20 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Palestinian Student Visas

Intended results To push the Minister for Justice to intervene in the case of Palestinian students denied visas, having secured places in institutions across Ireland

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Daniel Walsh

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Emailed two members of the Labour parliamentary party to encourage them to raise the matter with the Minister

Letter (1)

Published an open letter calling on the Ministers for Justice, Higher Education, and Foreign Affairs to intervene on behalf of the impacted students. The letter was co-signed by student unions and trade unions operating in the Higher Education sector

Email (1)

Emailed the Minister for Justice highlighting the issue and our perspective on it, and seeking a meeting to discuss the matter further.

Meeting (1)

Raised the matter in a meeting with the Minister for Higher Education, and asked him to discuss the matter with his party colleague, Minister O'Callaghan .

Phone call (2-5)

Discussed the matter with Barry Heneghan TD and asked him to seek further information on the refusals

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Laura Harmon Senator (Seanad)

Ivana Bacik TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jim O'Callaghan Minister (Department of Justice)

James Lawless Minister (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Barry Heneghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)