Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 4

Written Answers. - Police Support.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

57 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself with the level of police support and attention which is provided by the Spanish police to Irish tourists who have been the victims of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13962/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

About 400,000 Irish passport holders go to Spain as tourists every year. The number of those who are victims of crime and who come to the attention of my Department, the Embassy in Madrid or the consulates in Spain is about 50 a year.

In general, there is no reason to be dissatisfied with the level of support and attention which Irish victims of crime receive from police in Spain. As in the case of all police forces, the service provided by the police there can occasionally fall short of the ideal. If an Irish victim of crime is not happy with the way his or her case has been handled it is open to him or her to lodge a complaint with a local magistrate or to initiate legal proceedings. The Irish Embassy and consulates give as much practical assistance as they can in such situations by liaising with the Spanish auth orities, providing information to citizens on their entitlements and by giving them names of lawyers able to transact business in English.

If the Deputy is aware of any particular case in Spain where he considers that the police were not as helpful as they should have been, perhaps he would let me know.