Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 7

Written Answers. - Detention of Person.

Mary Upton

Question:

83 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised, with the appropriate authorities in the Government of Thailand, the detention and treatment of a person (details supplied) on the grounds that they are a practitioner of Falun Dafa. [14774/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The person referred to is a Swedish citizen who is a practitioner of Falun Dafa. Although Falun Dafa is not a proscribed organisation in Thailand, I understand from reports that Thai police visited the place she was staying in Bangkok on 29 April. Having found and confiscated material relating to Falun Dafa practitioners in China, reports indicate that the Thai police revoked her visa and that of her husband. The reports suggest that as the person in question refused to leave Thailand voluntarily, or to agree to her deportation in the absence of a reason, she was detained by the Thai authorities.

All EU nationals are subject to the laws of the land while in a foreign country. As the person in question is not an Irish citizen Ireland would have no consular function in this matter. The Swedish authorities are in contact with the Thai authorities in relation to her continued detention.