On 8 December, the detention in Syria of the person referred to by the Deputy, and his proposed deportation to Tunisia, was first brought to the attention of my Department. The Irish Embassy in Cairo immediately instructed the honorary consul in Damascus to inquire about his case and to ascertain whether he was subject to a deportation order. The embassy also requested the honorary consul to inquire as to his general health and well-being. In raising this case, the honorary consul expressed his concern that the Irish authorities had not previously been made aware of the person's detention. The Syrian authorities informed the honorary consul on 14 December 2005 that the person had been detained in Syria in 2003 on suspicion of travelling on falsified documents, and had been deported to Tunisia on the evening of 13 December 2005. The authorities did not supply any further information on the case.
Upon learning that he had been deported to Tunisia, the Irish Embassy in Madrid, which is accredited to Tunisia, instructed the honorary consulate in Tunis on 16 December to approach the Tunisian authorities to find out where the person is being held, the reason for his deportation to Tunisia, and the conditions of his detention, and also to arrange to visit him. On 19 December, the honorary consulate reverted to the embassy stating that he had been unable to obtain any details about the case from the Tunisian authorities.
Following further unsuccessful attempts to determine the person's whereabouts via the honorary consulate in Tunis, the Irish Embassy in Madrid sent a formal communication to the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our embassy in Madrid subsequently followed up with the Tunisian authorities, stressing the urgency and importance of the case. Our most recent approach was on 17 February when we were informed that our inquiry has been referred to the Tunisian Ministry for the Interior. No response has to date been forthcoming from that ministry. The Deputy can be assured that my Department will continue to actively pursue this case through all appropriate channels.
