Vol. 377 No. 9
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, he has taken or intends to take to deal with the concerns expressed to him in a letter from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in connection with Raoul Wallenberg, who was illegally kidnapped by servants or agents of the Soviet Union in 1945 in Hungary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
43.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the affair of Raoul Wallenberg has been brought to his attention; if he has contacted or intends contacting the Soviet authorities about this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 43 together.
I am aware of recent renewed public expressions of concern about the case of Raoul Wallenberg, who was last seen in Budapest in January 1945. There are reports that he has been seen since then in different prisons in the Soviet Union. In 1957 Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Gromyko said that the conclusion should be drawn, from a document found in the archieves of the Lubyanka Prison in Moscow, that Wallenberg died in this prison in July 1947. The statement made by Mr. Gromyko in 1957 remains the official Soviet position.
The Wallenberg case is one in which successive Irish Governments have taken an interest. The Soviet Embassy in Dublin has, in the past, been made aware of the concerns about him which have been expressed. I do not believe that any purpose would be served by raising the matter again with them at the moment. However, if circumstances change to warrant a review of this position, a decision will be made at that time on the best course of action to follow.
I have been in correspondence with the person referred to in the Deputy's second question on this matter.
