Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

It was a great privilege and a joy to announce the release on 11 November of Fr. Michael Sinnott after 32 days in captivity. His release was the result of an intense diplomatic effort by the Irish and Philippine Governments, working through the mechanisms of the Mindanao peace process. No ransom was paid to secure Fr. Sinnott's release nor was there any use of force. This was a victory for persuasion, perseverance, and patient diplomacy.

On hearing of the abduction on 11 October, I immediately asked our ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Richard O'Brien, who is based in Singapore, to travel to Manila to work with the Philippine authorities to help secure Fr. Sinnott's early release. He was joined in Manila on 25 October by Mr. Robert Hull, an official from Ireland's Mission in Timor-Leste. Ambassador O'Brien engaged in talks with the Government of the Philippines, representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, MILF, local officials in Mindanao, members of the Columban order in the Philippines and several international NGOs. We worked closely with our EU partners and the European Commission delegation. The ambassador also met with the Papal Nuncio and with Philippine church leaders. I would like to underline our deep appreciation to the United States Government for its assistance, as well as the Malaysian authorities.

On 21 October, the ambassador. Mr. O'Brien travelled with a high-level delegation of EU ambassadors to Mindanao, the southernmost island of the Philippines, which is home to a number of armed Islamist secessionist groups and where the security situation remains extremely fragile. While in Mindanao, the ambassador had a separate meeting with the leadership of the MILF at their headquarters in the jungle. He made a strong plea for Fr. Sinnott's release and received assurances from the MILF that they would do everything in their power to bring the kidnap to an end. Our ambassador to the Vatican, Mr. Noel Fahey, also maintained contact with the Columban order in Rome.

I was in direct contact with my Philippine counterpart, Foreign Secretary Romulo to convey the great concerns of both the Government and the Irish public. I emphasised our desire to see the kidnap resolved in a peaceful manner. I have since expressed my sincere gratitude to the Philippine Government for the consistently excellent co-operation it extended to us in securing Fr. Sinnott's release. The Sinnott family and the Columban Fathers demonstrated remarkable stoicism throughout their ordeal. I spoke to them on several occasions, and my officials maintained daily contact with them to brief them on developments.

Fr. Sinnott arrived in Dublin airport on 3 December, where he was anxiously awaited by his family and friends. Officials from my Department who had worked on the case were also present to greet him on behalf of the Government. I met with Fr. Michael and three of his Columban colleagues in Leinster House on Thursday last to welcome him back to Ireland and to discuss his experience. Our meeting left me with a strong impression of a truly selfless and dedicated man, and with an even deeper appreciation of the inspirational work carried out by our missionaries abroad.

Fr. Sinnott was particularly pleased with the acknowledgment that the Chair gave him when he was in the Visitors Gallery. Today, he is attending a special ceremony with the President in Áras an Uachtaráin. However, because we are busy here, we are not in a position to attend that.

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