asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens who have presented themselves at the Irish Embassy in Paris within the past three months, without passports, seeking assistance to return to this country; of these, the number who were receiving treatment for drug addiction at centres run by a French organisation known as Association le Patriarch; if his attention has been drawn to the reports that Irish citizens attending at these centres have had their passports taken away and have been held against their will; if he has made any representations to the French authorities on these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irish Citizens in France without Passports.
31.
Within the past three months twelve Irish citizens have presented themselves to the embassy in Paris, without passports, seeking assistance to return to Ireland.
Of these five were receiving treatment at Le Patriarche centres in France. They were issued with emergency travel certificates by the embassy.
The embassy have been in contact with the centres to explain the travel rights of Irish citizens and are making arrangements to recover the passports of those concerned.
The embassy have also been in contact with the French authorities.