Vol. 548 No. 2
115 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to ensure a person (details supplied) who is in prison in Thai land, will receive proper attention both to his health and his request for an appeal against his conviction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4154/02]
The person referred to in the Deputy's question is in receipt of consular assistance from the Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur which is accredited to Thailand and from the Irish Honorary Consulate in Bangkok. The honorary consul has visited him on a regular basis, most recently on 20 December 2001. The person concerned has received medical treatment in the prison hospital. My Department will continue to monitor his health condition and to ensure that he receives all necessary attention from the prison medical authorities. It will also continue to provide all possible consular assistance to him.
With regard to his appeal against conviction, the Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has recently written to the Thai Foreign Ministry, requesting the assistance of the Chief Justice of the Appeals Court in ensuring that the appeal is dealt with as expeditiously as possible on humanitarian grounds. A reply is currently awaited to this request.
