Vol. 490 No. 2
261 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 can avail of free legal aid services in Greece in order to be appropriately represented at divorce hearings which will involve the custody of her children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10069/98]
Under the European Agreement on the Transmission of Applications for Legal Aid, the Legal Aid Board operates as a transmitting authority for an applicant seeking civil legal aid and advice. It has no function in determining whether such an applicant qualifies for legal aid in the foreign jurisdiction concerned.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the person referred to in the question has been provided with assistance by the Legal Aid Board in the completion of an application for legal aid in Greece under the European Agreement on the Transmission of Applications Abroad. That application was transmitted by the board to the Greek authorities as provided for in the agreement. The determination of this application, under the agreement, is a matter now for the Greek authorities.
