HARRIS PLEADS FOR ‘COMMON SENSE’
HEALTH Minister Simon Harris has said ‘common sense must prevail’ in the case of nine-year-old Eric Zhi Ying Mei Xue, who has been threatened with deportation. In 2004, Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supported a referendum which removed the automatic right to citizenship from children who are born here, unless their parents are themselves citizens.
Eric may be deported to his mother’s homeland of China, where he has never been.
Mr Harris this week tweeted: ‘I stand with Eric Zhi Ying Xue in Bray. He is 9. He is Irish. He was born in Holles Street. He is part of our community. On humanitarian grounds alone, this should be resolved. Common sense must prevail. Have made representations to that effect.’
Eric is the second of two boys, both born in Ireland to non-national parents, whose cases have been highlighted by communities who wish to prevent their deportation.
Nonso Muojeke, 14, will now be allowed to stay at home in Tullamore, Co. Offaly after an intervention by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.