Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
12. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will engage on a political level with his political counterpart in Greece in relation to a person (details supplied); if he will speak to the Greek ambassador to Ireland; the formal steps he will take to raise the concerns of the Irish family involved in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43528/13]
View answerI am aware of the situation concerning the person referred to by the Deputy. As he 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 case, as we have no locus standi in the matter. However, on hearing of his detention, and notwithstanding the fact that he is not a citizen of Ireland, the Irish Embassy in Athens made contact with the Greek police in an effort to convey the Irish Government’s interest in this case on the basis that he is married to an Irish citizen. It was made clear to our Embassy that the authorities in Crete would not provide them with any information regarding this case as no Irish citizen was involved. To clarify further, our Embassy has certain rights of communication and contact with Irish citizens in Greece to facilitate the exercise of our consular functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). The Embassy has no such rights for other persons, even if they are related to Irish citizens and I have no basis on which to raise this case with my Greek counterpart.
