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International Agreements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2013

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Questions (153)

Joan Collins

Question:

153. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the family of a child with a copy of the letter he has sent to his counterpart in Egypt seeking a bilateral agreement to bring the child home; if other family names are on the letter, if he will delete same (details supplied); and if a member of his staff will be allocated to immediately inform the family of any updates with Egyptian authorities when he receives same. [49720/13]

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Written answers

For obvious reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any family matter which may be the subject of legal proceedings now or in the future, but I can confirm that I have written to the family in question confirming as Egypt is not a contracting state to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, I have contacted my counterpart in Egypt proposing that their officials and my Department explore the possibilities of reaching an agreement as to how to assist any family when a child has been abducted. If the proposal is acceptable, any such arrangement would be subject to negotiation with the Egyptian authorities and there is no guarantee that such a proposal will be successful or that it could apply retrospectively. This is the up-to-date position in relation to what my Department is doing regarding a possible bi-lateral agreement with Egypt and the family concerned will be kept informed of relevant developments.

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