Vol. 560 No. 1
312 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if action has been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of a person (details supplied); and if there is anything that could be done either to ensure this person serves part of their sentence in an Irish prison or to facilitate this person's family in visiting him. [1645/03]
The individual concerned was convicted of a drug-related offence in Jamaica in December 2001 and was sentenced to four years imprisonment. He is expected to serve two years and ten months.
My Department, through the good offices of the British High Commission in Kingston, has provided and will continue to provide all possible consular assistance in this case. The Irish Ambassador to Canada, who is also accredited to Jamaica, visited the individual in question on Friday 24 January.
Jamaica is not a signatory of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and there is no bilateral agreement between Ireland and Jamaica on the transfer of prisoners. My Department has previously facilitated a visit by a member of the individual's family and will do so again in the future if requested.
The embassy in Canada will continue to monitor this case closely.
