The first item on our agenda is a discussion on the action which the committee may take in regard to the death of an Irish national in Spain. We discussed the case of Daniel O'Callaghan in private session. He is an Irish citizen who died due to blunt force trauma as a result of an incident while on holiday in Gran Canaria in May 2003. Mr. O'Callaghan's family has expressed serious concerns about the investigation undertaken by the Spanish authorities into their son's death. The committee has been assisted in its considerations today by Mr.O'Callaghan's mother, Dr. Maeve Pomeroy, who I thank for coming here today. She is most welcome. I also welcome Mr. Denis O'Callaghan, Daniel's father, and his sister, Marie-Louise O'Callaghan.
The committee acknowledges the large number of Irish citizens who regularly travel on holidays to destinations in Spain and the strong links between Ireland and Spain that have developed over many years. However, the committee has expressed concern at some of the elements in this particular case and has noted some general issues that arise from it. It is our opinion that witnesses were not sought or interviewed by Spanish police and the scene was not cordoned off and examined forensically for evidence. Daniel's clothes were not examined, as should be standard practice. It took an investigation by the Garda Síochána to provide hard evidence and find a witness to the crime. Even after this evidence was presented to them, it is my understanding that the Spanish police were reluctant to treat the case seriously.
Concern has also been expressed at the highest levels of Government. For example, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has taken a personal interest in this case. He has met the family on a number of occasions. I welcome the Minister to the meeting. I appreciate that he has come here today.
I suggest that we raise the matter with the Spanish ambassador. The family is anxious that the committee would call for a meeting with the Spanish Minister for Justice. I propose that the committee would offer its support to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his efforts to bring about a resolution to this matter. I also propose that the committee should endeavour to advance the adoption of minimum standards across the European Union in cases such as this.
It has been brought to my attention that a number of MEPs, Avril Doyle, Gay Mitchell, who set up the meeting, Liam Aylward, Mairéad McGuinness, Simon Coveney and Mr. Jim Higgins met with a representative of the Spanish Government today. They received some undertakings from the Spanish Government to which I will refer later.
We intend to ask the clerk to seek a briefing from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on victim's rights in the European Union. We may propose to deal with this matter at an assembly such as COSAC. I also propose that any consultant we take on in the next few weeks would produce a report on this area in consultation with victim support groups such as the European Forum for Victim Services. I believe a commission has been set up in that regard which we can consult.
Before I ask members to contribute, I invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Michael McDowell, to give his impressions of this case. He is aware of the details as he has met with the family on a number of occasions. He has also been in contact with the Spanish authorities. I thank the Minister for attending.