Vol. 559 No. 5
81 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a report to date from the consular office which attended the opening days of the trial of three Irish men facing serious charges in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26527/02]
173 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will send an official legal observer to attend the February 2002 resumption of the trial of persons (details supplied) in Colombia, in addition to the ambassador in Bogota, in view of the serious problems that arose during the first phase of this trial. [26832/02]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 81 and 173 together.
I have received a report from the ambassador to Colombia who was the official Irish observer at the trial of the three Irish men in Bogota on 2 and 3 December. This is being considered at present. The question of appointing an observer to the next stage of the trial will be decided nearer the time.
