Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Correspondence.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

488 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the response he has received from the Russian authorities on the series of unprovoked attacks on Irish fans during the recent European Championship in Moscow; and if his Department has dealt with the inadequacy of the police response to the incidents. [16285/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

I share the Deputy's concern at the attacks on Irish supporters in Moscow over the weekend of the recent Ireland-Russia football match.

The Irish Embassy in Moscow, on my instructions, made urgent representations to the Russian authorities expressing concern at the events that took place. Ireland's ambassador to Russia met the acting Director of the Second European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry and handed over an aide-memoire setting out our concerns, along with a summary of incidents of violence. The ambassador also highlighted the reported lack of response from the police in relation to these incidents. The Foreign Ministry undertook to forward this material to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a view to ensuring a thorough and prompt investigation by the police into the incidents. The Embassy has also passed details of attacks, as reported to them, to the Moscow police.

In response, the Russian police expressed their regret at the attacks on Irish supporters and indicated that they had arrested 60 young Russian people, mostly in the vicinity of hotels occupied by Irish supporters.

At a meeting on 12 September 2002 in New York, I raised this matter with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov and conveyed my concern to him, which I indicated was being pursued with the Russian Authorities by our Embassy.

The Embassy in Moscow is in close contact with the Russian police in relation to the on-going investigation of these incidents.