Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); his views on same and if he will indicate the assistance he has offered in this matter [46694/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my previous written answers number 205 of 20 October 2010, numbers 72 and 73 of 28 October 2010 and number 222 of 11 November 2010 to Deputy Michael Creed which outline the assistance we have provided to the father, to date, through our Honorary Consul in Phuket and our Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Our consular services continue to pursue this matter with vigour. Last week, the Commander of the Phuket Police agreed to meet with our Honorary Consul in Phuket in her Office to discuss the case. The Commander undertook to step up the search for the mother and the child through all his contacts in the police force. During that meeting, the Commander rang an inspector in area of Thailand where the child in question is believed to be held by his mother who agreed to intensify investigation of the matter. Following the meeting, the Commander together with our Honorary Consul visited the father of the child at his home and discussed the case with him for an hour.

Since then, the Thai Police have increased their efforts to locate the child and its mother. Detectives have followed up with the father at his home and at the Phuket Police Station in the last week. The Honorary Consul has been told that detectives from Phuket intend to travel to Bangkok to pursue contacts there that might lead to the child and its mother.

While the investigation into the whereabouts of the child and its mother remain primarily a matter for the Thai authorities, our Honorary Consul in Phuket and our Embassy in Kuala Lumpur will continue to maintain ongoing contact with the Thai authorities and the child's father in relation to this case and to ensure that the father receives all possible consular assistance.