Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2016
195. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the action his Department has taken to aid a person (details supplied) in the Philippines since the situation was discussed as a Topical Issue in Dáil Éireann. [38235/16]
View answerI am very much aware of the consular case in the Philippines and the very difficult circumstances in which this individual and his family find themselves.
As the Deputy is aware, I have personally raised my concerns with senior Philippines Government contacts, including most recently in New York in September.
As the present case is a legal matter and the subject of an ongoing judicial process in the Philippines, the extent to which the Irish Government can become involved, and the nature of the assistance and advice we can offer, is necessarily limited. The Irish citizen, who remains on bail, has filed an appeal with the Philippines Supreme Court against his conviction and sentence.
For any Irish citizen subject to criminal proceedings abroad, my Department officials will offer non-judgmental advice and any appropriate practical help that they can, irrespective of the alleged offence, and regardless of whether the individual is ultimately deemed to be innocent or guilty, is on remand or has already been sentenced by a court of law.
My Department officials at headquarters in Dublin, at our Embassy in Singapore, which is accredited to the Philippines, and our Honorary Consul in Manila, continue to remain very engaged on this case.
My officials in Embassy Singapore, on foot of a request from the individual concerned, are examining whether it is possible to seek to have the appeal process expedited, on humanitarian grounds.
The Consul from our Embassy in Singapore met with the individual in person recently.
Our Ambassador has recently raised the case again with Philippines government officials.
And at the start of November officials from my Department met with a representative of the individual in Dublin.
The citizen remains in regular contact with my consular officials in Singapore and in Dublin.
I and my Department officials will continue to give the matter priority attention and to provide what practical advice and support we can.
