Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Ceisteanna (82)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

82. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the plight of a person (details supplied) who is incarcerated in a Spanish prison since 2009; if any consular service has been made available to them; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person believes they have been victimised in the prison for raising the issue of abuse of other prisoners in prisons in which they were also imprisoned. [1977/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The person referred to by the Deputy first came to the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2011 when his family contacted the Consular Assistance Section. My Department has been providing consular assistance through our Embassy in Madrid, the Honorary Consuls in Malaga, Seville and the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin. Our Honorary Consul in Seville is in direct contact with the Irish citizen and visited the person in prison on 16th December 2011 and also on 4th May 2012.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the Honorary Consul has raised a number of issues of concern to the citizen with the prison authorities. The Honorary Consul also contacted the person’s lawyer to pass on certain information as requested by him. My Department will continue to provide all possible consular assistance in this case.

Question No. 83 answered with Question No. 66.