Vol. 504 No. 4
248 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in the release of information by his Department to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 regarding the location of the remains of a person who was allegedly abducted by a subversive organisation in May 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12165/99]
No request for information regarding the efforts to locate and recover the remains of a person has been received by my Department from the person named by the Deputy.
As I indicated in response to parliamentary questions from Deputy Gregory, No. 118 on 28 April, and Deputy Sargent, No. 93 on 5 May, efforts were being made, in France, to locate the remains of the late Mr. Séamus Ruddy.
I must, with regret, advise the House that the specific location identified as containing the remains of Mr. Ruddy has been thoroughly searched by the French authorities but the remains of the person concerned were not found. I would like to thank the French authorities for the assistance which they have given in this matter over the past few months.
The group which supplied the information has been told of the situation and undertook to advise the family of the late Mr. Ruddy who have themselves not been in touch with my Department in the matter but have maintained contact with the group already referred to.
