Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2004
93 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the time of the last visit to a person (details supplied) from Irish embassy personnel; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person must buy all their own food, toiletries and clothing; if the Irish embassy can help with such costs as is the practise with embassies of other countries such as Britain, Germany and France. [12884/04]
View answerAs I informed the Deputy on 4 March 2004, the Irish embassy in Malaysia, which is also accredited to Thailand, and the honorary consulate in Bangkok have been in regular contact with the person to whom the Deputy refers since his imprisonment. The last consular visit by a diplomatic officer of the Irish embassy in Kuala Lumpur took place on 29 August 2003. Another visit is scheduled in the coming weeks. The honorary consul remains in regular written contact which takes place, on average, every three weeks with the person concerned. The consul delivers parcels to him from Ireland about three or four times a year. The honorary consulate staff regularly purchase items for him at his request and ensure that money sent to him from Ireland is paid into the prison account for him. I regret that there is no provision for the funds available in my Department's Vote to be used for the purchase of personal supplies for Irish prisoners overseas.
The honorary consulate has also written on behalf of the person concerned to both the Thai department of corrections and the prison in which he is detained and arranged numerous visits to him by his family and friends. The person in question is currently applying for parole, an application to which my Department through the embassy in Kuala Lumpur has lent its support.
