GAA Palestine has announced with "a very heavy heart" that a planned trip for Palestinians to visit Ireland for a summer tour now cannot proceed, even if visas were issued at this stage.
A team of 33 children and 14 mentors from the West Bank were due to travel to Ireland for a summer tour this Friday, but were denied entry by the Department of Justice.
The group said in a statement that the touring party was scheduled to depart from the West Bank this morning, but time has now run out to make alternative arrangements.
"Even if visas are issued at this late stage, delays at checkpoints and borders are likely to cause severe disruptions and extended delays.
"Giving the children hope again, only for that hope to be dashed once more, would be too cruel.
"We are deeply disappointed by the narrative that has circulated suggesting that necessary documentation was not provided or that we were late in the submission of our appeal," the group said.
It added: "We have been working diligently for months with the embassy in Israel. Despite numerous appeals over the past week requesting engagement, we have received no response from the Department of Justice.
"Our legal team has also attempted to communicate directly with the Department, but we have once again been ignored."
The group said it was "beyond devastated" that the trip could not go ahead as planned.
It added it is now exploring "Plan B" and looking for destinations where the children "will be welcomed and celebrated".
The group had lodged an appeal over the denial of visas.
'Absolutely perplexed'
"We're absolutely perplexed", Press Officer with GAA Palestine, Gill Waters said.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Ms Waters refuted the Taoiseach’s comments that the trip had been "haphazardly organised".
"The documentation, when it's uploaded, when we were engaging with the embassy in Israel, that goes straight to the portal in the Department of Justice, so they’ve had all the information," she said.
"We've asked them, we've been on our knees, begging them, 'what information do you need that we haven't already provided’, and they would not tell us."
Earlier, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan rejected criticism from representatives of GAA Palestine over his department’s handling of visa applications.
Speaking ahead of an Institute of International and European Affairs event, he said all applications have to be assessed "fairly and accurately" by the department.
Watch: Minister O'Callaghan rejects criticism over GAA Palestine visa denials
"No matter who you are, you have to comply with the immigration rules," he said.
"I’m not going to change those rules simply because there is media pressure put on me," he added.
Minister O’Callaghan said that around 2.40pm yesterday afternoon his department received an appeal in respect of the applications, which had been rejected and it is now being looked at by the immigration unit.
The visa appeals process allows applicants to address any factors of the original refusal decision and have that application considered again.
The minister said he is "very anxious" about the visa applications appeal from GAA Palestine being dealt with "as quick and possible" as he is conscious of timelines.
He said: "There are rules for coming into Ireland. There are immigration rules.
"There is a requirement to provide documentation if you are coming into Ireland seeking a short stay visa.
"In particular for children coming in, there are very specific rules in terms of consent of parents and guardians."
Mr O’Callaghan added: "So I don’t want to deal with individual cases but there are immigration rules when it comes to people applying to come in to Ireland.
"No matter how sympathetic the applicants are, we have to make sure the rules are applied."
