asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest information available to the Government on the plight of the two Concern volunteers, Ms. Fiona Quinn and Ms. Mary Coen, who were kidnapped in Ethiopia on Thursday last; the measures which are being taken to ensure the safety of the two volunteers and to secure their release; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Kidnapping of Concern Volunteers.
The Department of Foreign Affairs were advised on Friday that two Irish citizens, Ms. Fiona Quinn and Ms. Mary Coen, working with Concern in western Ethiopia had been abducted the previous day together with four Ethiopian nationals working for Concern. It is believed that the group responsible is the Oromo Liberation Front.
The Government are gravely concerned at the kidnapping of these young volunteers who were engaged in humanitarian work with the Ethiopian people. We have made known our concern to the Ethiopian authorities.
Ireland does not have diplomatic or consular representation in Ethiopia. Immediately on hearing of the abduction the Department contacted the Presidency of the European Communities — the Federal Republic of Germany — and the European Commission, both of which are represented in Addis Ababa, to seek their assistance. We also informed the UN High Commission for Refugees in Geneva.
Concern representatives in Addis Ababa and Khartoum have been in contact with the UK Embassies in these capitals which are making inquiries on our behalf.
The Department are, of course, maintaining close liaison with Concern here in Dublin. We understand that contact has now been made with the Oromo Liberation Front and I can tell the House that our latest information is that the two nurses are unharmed. It is hoped that they will be handed over safely in the near future.
I know that Members of the Dáil will appreciate the need for sensitivity in what we do and say in relation to incidents such as this. However, I can assure the House that the Government will continue in their efforts to establish the precise whereabouts of Fiona Quinn and Mary Coen and to secure their early and safe release.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply and welcome the news that the two volunteers — I presume the others, too — are unharmed. Will the Taoiseach consider sending a special diplomatic representative or person from the Department of Foreign Affairs to Ethiopia to liaise in this case with Government officials and Concern workers in order to be on the spot in relation to any development there?
If that appears necessary of course I would not hesitate to do so but, without being unduly optimistic about the matter, our assessment is that things are proceeding reasonably well.
I am pleased with the news that the Taoiseach has imparted, especially in relation to the safety of the volunteers. I attempted to raise this matter last evening on the Adjournment but I did not find favour with your office. Does the Taoiseach intend to take the matter further, especially in view of the frequency of these abductions and kidnappings of relief workers? Would it be possible to highlight it at the United Nations or the EC so that we could build up international support against this kind of kidnapping and abduction?
At the moment, it is better to concentrate on our discussions in endeavouring to have the volunteers returned unharmed.