Vol. 361 No. 5
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Fr. Rudi Romano who has disappeared in the Philippines; and if, in particular, he will endorse the resolution of the European Parliament of the 5 September 1985, in this regard.
24.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, the Government have taken to help establish the whereabouts and secure the release of Fr. Rudi Romano, who was kidnapped by Filipino security forces in Cebu city on 11 July; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
37.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the intention of the Government to endorse the European Parliament's resolution dated September 5 1985, on the missing Philippine priest, Fr. Rudi Romano; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations which he has made to the US Government arising from the disappearance of Fr. Rudi Romano, C.SS.R., a Filipino national, in his own country on 11 July this year; if he is aware of the deep concern by many people in Ireland and elsewhere at the suspected involvement of the Filipino Government in this disappearance and that if this is not solved satisfactorily with the return alive of Fr. Romano, the lives of other missionaries are likely to be similarly endangered; if he will continue to press the US Government on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 24, 37 and 38 together. Fr. Romano has not been seen by his colleagues since 11 July 1985. Witnesses of his abduction in Cebu in the Philippines said that he had been picked up by men, who, judging by their equipment and the fact that they were driving a car with government licence plates, appeared to be in the military services.
I am well aware of the concern felt by many people in Ireland and elsewhere at this disappearance. The Honorary Consul in Manila was instructed to pursue the matter with the Philippine authorities as were our embassies in London and Beijing. The implications for the safety of Irish missionaries in the area were brought to the attention of the Philippine authorities. Our embassies in Canberra and Washington were also asked to approach their host countries and request them to use their good offices in relation to the case.
On the occasion of international conferences in Nairobi and Bangkok the issue was raised with the Philippine representatives, as it was with the Philippine Ambassador to Ireland, who is resident in London, during his recent visit to Dublin.
The Philippine authorities have at all stages assured us that they are conducting an investigation into Fr. Romano's disappearance and are searching actively for him. Regrettably we have no firm indication as to his whereabouts.
The Presidency's representative in Manila raised on behalf of the Ten the case of Fr. Romano with the Philippine authorities, thus acting upon the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 12 September 1985.
The US authorities have taken a consistent interest in the case and my Department have consulted with them on a number of occasions.
As we are tied for time I propose that Deputies who have supplementary questions would ask them together and then the Minister can give a reply.
In view of the fact that I am the only Deputy present who has a question tabled——
The Deputy should not waste his own time.
I am the only Deputy present who has a question tabled in this case. In view of the fact that this is important for Irish missionaries, will I be allowed a rather long supplementary question?
The Deputy must abide by the rules of the House.
Deputy Collins has no concern for Irish missionaries. He should allow the Ceann Comhairle to chair the proceedings of the Dáil.
I am tied by the Orders of the House.
Since he did not refer to it in his reply, will the Minister tell me if he endorses the motion put down and passed by the European Parliament and if he shares the view of the Provincial of the Redemptorist Order that the failure to locate Father Romano has major significance for all missionaries and for the lives of all missionaries, many of them Irish, in the Philippines?
As I said in my reply, we fulfilled what was in the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 12 September because the President's representative in Manila raised on behalf of the Twelve the case of Fr. Romano with the Philippine authorities.
The second part of the Deputy's question might be considered as an exaggeration, but obviously concern must be expressed for all missionaries in the Philippines, and particularly for the Irish missionaries, in view of what happened last year about their ability under that régime to fulfil their mission.
Is the Minister aware that the Provincial of the Redemptorist Order has expressed concern that the failure to locate Father Romano creates fears for other missionaries?
That is repetition.
Would the Minister endorse part II of the motion to the European Parliament which calls on the commission, in the absence of acceptable responses, to review trading relations with the Philippines?
Certainly we can review part II of the resolution but I would not like to be cynical by saying that that costs nothing. In my view, this matter should be taken more seriously than that. The Council of Ministers will no doubt be looking at this again if there is not a satisfactory resolution of this problem. I share the fears of the Provincial of the Redemptorist Order because of what happened Father Romano.
I am calling Deputy Gerard Collins to ask one supplementary. I must then move to Priority Questions because I do not have any discretion in this matter.
Would the Minister tell the House what pressures he has brought to bear on Mr. Shultz or members of the American Administration as regards this issue?
As I said, we have raised this with the United States Department of State.
But personally with Mr. Shultz?
No I have not raised it personally with Mr. Shultz.
We will now move to Priority Questions.
I would not like the House to think that the representations of the Irish Government were not effective.
