Vol. 572 No. 3
247 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason neither he nor other officials from his Department met a person (details supplied) in view of the recent vindication granted to this person by Switzerland during their recent visit to Ireland. [23527/03]
250 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason his Department has refused to meet a person (details supplied) who is exiled in Switzerland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22964/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 250 together.
Officials from my Department will, from time to time, meet individuals representing opposition groups abroad. In deciding on whether to proceed with such meetings, account is taken of the background both of the opposition group and of the representative seeking the meeting. It would, for instance, be inappropriate to meet with persons advocating or supporting terrorist activities.
As the Deputy will be aware from my reply to a similar question on 1 October 2003, there have been a number of reports relating to the subject of his question which gave rise to concern about his background. It did not prove possible to satisfactorily allay these concerns. Accordingly, my Department was not in a position to accede to the request for a meeting. I am not aware of any official statement concerning this person having been made by the Government of Switzerland either immediately prior to his visit to Ireland or in the time which has elapsed since.
