Vol. 404 No. 6
83 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of times the Ambassador to Israel visited Israel in 1990 and to date in 1991; whether any attempt has been made to contact the Irish community living in Israel; the consideration which is being given to their safety during the present crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Irish Embassy at Athens which is accredited to Israel maintains regular contact with the Irish community in that country both on an individual basis and with the representative association of Irish citizens there.
Since the start of the present cirsis the embassy has intensified these contacts. The embassy is also liaising closely with the British Embassy in Tel Aviv which acts for us in emergencies and with which a number of our citizens have registered. Our embassy is satisfied that the Irish citizens who are currently in Israel wish to remain there.
Staff from the embassy visited Israel three times during 1990. The current ambassador designate will be visiting Israel shortly on the occasion of the presentation of his credentials.
I wish to assure the House that my Department and the embassy at Athens will continue to monitor closely the situation of our citizens in Israel.
