Vol. 480 No. 6
128 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures, if any, his Department has taken in recent weeks in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) who is being held in care by the Italian authorities; and if he has raised the case with his Italian counterpart. [14654/97]
This case concerns the welfare of a child whose custody is one of a number of matters in dispute between the Irish and Italian parents. The child has been in State custody in Italy since March 1997. In the interests of the welfare of the child, who is an Irish citizen, my Department and the Embassy in Rome have been giving every assistance possible to the Irish parent.
The situation is complicated by the fact that two courts, a civil court and a juvenile court, have been involved. The Italian Supreme Court has been asked to adjudicate as to which of them has competence regarding the child's welfare. There is no indication yet when a ruling on this may be expected. The Embassy has recently requested information from the Italian Foreign Ministry about this.
