John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Like the Deputies, I am extremely concerned for the welfare of Father Michael Sinnott, who was abducted from his residence near the southern city of Pagadian in the Philippines, on Sunday, 11 October. Father Sinnott, who is a member of the Missionaries of St. Columba, is nearly 80 years of age. He has a heart condition, which required a bypass four years ago and is in need of daily medication.

I wish to assure the House that the Government is making every possible effort to secure Father Sinnott's release. On hearing of his abduction, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, immediately asked our ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Richard O'Brien, who is based in Singapore, to travel to the Philippines to impress upon the government there our concerns about the safety and health of Father Sinnott and also to work with the authorities to help secure his early release.

The information we have received is that Father Sinnott was abducted by a number of armed men from the Columban house in Gates District in Pagadian City. The government authorities in the Philippines have reported to Ambassador O'Brien that the assailants forcibly entered the Columban house, seized Father Sinnott at gunpoint and fled with him in a mini-van which was subsequently abandoned and burned. The abductors took Father Sinnott to a nearby beach where they boarded one or more boats.

The Philippine security forces immediately launched an operation against the kidnappers. The security forces claim to know the whereabouts of the kidnappers and to be monitoring their position. The Philippine Government has issued a statement condemning the kidnapping of Father Sinnott, expressing its abhorrence at this type of crime and appealing for Father Sinnott's immediate and safe release.

On his arrival in Manila, Ambassador O'Brien met the superior of the Columban order and other members of the Columban community, many of whom are Irish. He has also met with the deputy secretary of the ministry of the interior; with the under secretary of state of the Philippine Government who is managing the kidnap and who had been given charge of the operation. He also met with the deputy chief of police, who has special responsibility for the safe return of Father Sinnott and with the police chief of the neighbouring area, who is joint co-ordinator of the task force established to deal with the abduction.

Ambassador O'Brien also met with officials from the ministry of foreign affairs and the British Embassy. He has been working throughout with the invaluable assistance of our honorary consul in Manila, Ms. Noreen Trota. The Philippine authorities gave the ambassador an account of their investigation and efforts to date to free Father Sinnott. Ambassador O'Brien impressed upon them that the Philippine authorities have operational responsibility for the management of this hostage situation and for security matters in their own country, and for the resolution of this unacceptable situation in a swift and peaceful manner. He also stressed that efforts are needed in the short term to persuade the kidnappers to ensure that Father Sinnott has all the necessary medication he needs at this time. The local church has appealed to the kidnappers to secure the necessary medical supplies for Father Sinnott.

The Philippine Government has also indicated that as yet nobody has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and there has not been any contact from the kidnappers. While a number of groups have been cited locally as possibly responsible for the kidnapping, it would be counter-productive to speculate further at this stage. The Minister, Deputy Micheál Martin, has been in direct contact with the head of the Columban order both here and in the Philippines. The consular division of the Department of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the family contact person here in Ireland. Father Sinnott has four sisters, one of whom is a Loreto sister.

In conclusion, I appeal to the kidnappers to release Father Sinnott. He has made such a contribution to the welfare of the ordinary people of the Philippines and he deserves to be honoured for his work rather than taken by force from his home in such a violent manner.

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