Skip to main content
Normal View

Consular Services Remit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Questions (22)

Joe Higgins

Question:

22. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the revelations contained in the New Zealand made television documentary Who Killed Trent Keegan, by Melting Pot Studios and carried on TVNZ which details the encroachment on the land of the Masai people by safari companies; the death in suspicious circumstances of a New Zealand citizen of Irish decent Trent Keegan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44723/12]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, there are three parts to his question which I will answer accordingly. Firstly, the issue of encroachment on the land of the Masai people by safari companies. Ireland has been to the fore in highlighting the challenges facing pastoral communities such as the Masai people, the violation of their human rights and the need to find sustainable solutions to land conflicts. We have also emphasised the substantial contribution that pastoral communities make to environmentally sustainable economic development in Tanzania. The Irish Embassy in Dar es Salaam has taken a lead in highlighting pastoralist community concerns, including through the EU, and the issues have been raised at the highest levels of Government. Through our existing Irish Aid bilateral programme in Tanzania, Ireland is providing annual support of €400,000 to pastoralist civil society groups to strengthen their capacity for advocacy and engagement with national and local development processes.

Secondly, the death of Trent Keegan in Kenya. Notwithstanding Mr. Keegan’s connections with Ireland, he was a citizen of New Zealand travelling on a New Zealand passport. While I am aware that the circumstances of Mr. Keegan’s death remain unresolved, Ireland has no consular role or standing in this matter.

Finally, the person referred to by the Deputy first came to the attention of my Department in 2008 when he was living in Tanzania. Since then my Department, through the Embassy in Tanzania and Consular Assistance Section in Dublin, has afforded all possible consular assistance to the person mentioned. The Embassy pursued his concerns in attempting to seek a meeting with District Commissioner and also through the Foreign Ministry. Also, my Department has kept him fully up to date with correspondence from the Tanzanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs on this matter.

Top
Share