Vol. 568 No. 6
200 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise with the Nepalese Government the disappearance of a person (details supplied) who was arrested by a joint team of Indian and Nepalese Police. [16537/03]
I thank the Deputy for bringing this case to my attention. As Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Sofi is not an Irish citizen, the Government has no consular function in this matter.
The EU discusses and, as appropriate, conveys its concerns about human rights issues with India on a regular basis, most recently at the EU-India political directors troika in New Delhi on 5 June. EU heads of mission in Kathmandu also convey EU concerns about the human rights situation in Nepal to the authorities there as required. I will instruct our ambassador at New Delhi, who is also accredited to Nepal, to raise this matter with the appropriate authorities.
