Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:139. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide assistance to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16248/16]
View answerWednesday, 15 June 2016
Questions (139)
Written answers
I am aware of this tragic case, and wish to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of this young man. I also wish to assure them of the continued support and assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassy in Vietnam.
My Department has been providing consular assistance to the family of the Irish citizen in question through our Embassy in Hanoi and the Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, and is in ongoing contact with the family through the appointed Garda Liaison Officer.
My Department has assisted the family in a number of ways, mainly focused on liaison with the local Vietnamese authorities, including in relation to arrangements for the formal identification of the deceased; the carrying-out of the post-mortem and arrangements for the repatriation of the citizen’s remains. I can confirm that the autopsy report on the deceased was sent via the Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin to the family’s Garda Liaison Officer in March 2016 and has been received by the family. Continuing engagement between our Embassy and local authorities has also confirmed that the police report was sent by local police to Gardaí via Interpol in May 2016.
Let me assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to offer all possible consular assistance to the family and continue to keep them updated on developments, while also remaining engaged with the relevant local authorities on this matter.