Vol. 474 No. 3
65 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, which were taken by his Department to ensure that a proper investigation was carried out into the death of a person (details supplied) who died in October 1994 near Lagrasse in the south of France. [2808/97]
The investigation of the circumstances in which this person tragically died is a matter for the French authorities. In response to a formal request from them, my Department was involved in arranging for French police officers to be present when, in 1995, statements were made to gardaí by Irish companions of the deceased. The investigation, which is being conducted by a Juge d'Instruction, an investigating magistrate, is still under way. In view of the time that has passed since it commenced and the understandable concern of the family of the deceased, I have instructed the embassy in Paris to ask the Ministry of Justice to see whether anything can be done to bring it to an early conclusion. My Department will continue to monitor developments and to keep the family informed.
