I am aware of the situation concerning the person referred to by the Deputy. As the person referred to is not an Irish citizen, it is not possible for my Department to offer him consular assistance. The Greek authorities are under no legal obligation to assist our Embassy with any requests made in connection with this investigation, as we have no locus standi in the matter. Embassies have certain rights of communication and contact with their citizens to facilitate the exercise of our consular functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). Embassies have no such rights for other persons, even if they are related to those citizens.
As previously advised, this Department and the Embassy in Athens stand ready to authenticate any documents which would assist the case of the person in question if they are in a form suitable for authentication.
I am aware that the case is under appeal before the courts in Greece at present. In regard to other documents or records, including passport stamps and airline records, the person’s lawyers are best placed to advise on how such documents or records might be entered into evidence at any appeal. If such documents or records are held by Irish authorities or other entities, there are legal procedures which may assist in their retrieval but this Department has no role in that regard.
