Vol. 466 No. 4
71 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact, if any, that took place between his Department and the Irish Embassy in London in connection with the recent Anthony Duncan extradition case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11776/96]
Contact between my Department and the Irish Embassy in London is not part of the procedure followed in extradition cases and there was, therefore, no such operational contact in regard to this case. I would add that my Department keeps all our overseas missions informed on a continuous basis of Government and ministerial statements. In this context the Irish Embassy in London, was, of course, provided with statements by the Minister for Justice on the case referred to by the Deputy.
As I also stated in the Dáil on 30 May 1996, I am entirely satisfied that this case has not damaged Anglo-Irish relations and will not deter either the Irish or the British Government in its pursuit of constructive all-party talks commencing on 10 June 1996. The matter was not referred to at the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting on 22 May or the informal ministerial meeting between myself and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 28 May 1996, nor has it been referred to in subsequent contacts between us.
