Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I can well understand the concerns of any family with a member detained, for whatever reason, in another jurisdiction. It is difficult. It is very traumatic for a young man to be detained in a jurisdiction with whose legal processes he may be unfamiliar. Mr. Paul Barrett is an Irish citizen and is currently in detention in Lille in France. He was arrested on 16 March this year by the customs authorities in Caen on charges relating to the transportation of a large amount of illicit cigarettes.

I understand the worries of Mr. Barrett's family and empathise with it, particularly his mother, regarding his arrest and detention. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, has met the family and assured it every assistance will be offered. The consular assistance section of the Department and the embassy in Paris have been heavily involved in this case. We have maintained close contact with Mr. Barrett's family on all consular matters associated with the case. However, there is a clear distinction between the provision of consular assistance, which we can and do provide, and legal proceedings in another jurisdiction, which we cannot interfere with.

On this subject, a lawyer was appointed to represent Mr. Barrett by the French court. The Department has provided Mr. Barrett, through his family, with a list of alternative lawyers should he be unhappy with his current representation. It is solely a matter for the French court to decide on Mr. Barrett's guilt or otherwise in this case.

Our embassy in Paris has made, and will continue to make, every effort to ensure that Mr. Barrett is treated no less favourably than a local citizen would be treated if he were charged with a similar offence. The assistance provided thus far has included, inter alia, two visits by a member of our embassy staff in Paris, who has travelled to Lille expressly for this purpose.

The Deputy made a very clear case that there are concerns regarding Mr. Barrett's health. The Department of Foreign Affairs has been in continuous contact with his family on that issue. We have raised the family's concerns with the prison authorities. Our embassy has gone so far as to make contact with the prison kitchen staff to convey recommendations made by Mr. Barrett's family as to his dietary requirements.

The embassy is informed that Mr. Barrett is assessed and monitored on a regular basis by the prison doctor and the prison psychologist, who lived for a number of years in Ireland and who speaks fluent English. That is important in such a case. The replies we have received from the prison, following the many requests for clarification that we have made, confirm the prison had no significant physical or psychological issues to report regarding the health and general welfare of Mr. Barrett. The latest such request for an update was received today and notes that, at present, Mr Barrett is not deemed what has been described as "a danger to himself". This should be of assurance to the family. The doctor has advised that if there were any doubt in this regard, Mr. Barrett would be placed under observation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has a large number of consular cases and has a good record in respect of them, particularly traumatic cases such as this. I assure the Deputy and, through him, the Barrett family, that the Department will continue to liaise with the French authorities on Mr. Barrett's behalf through the embassy in Paris, which has worked very hard on his behalf. We will keep in contact with the family on developments pertaining to the case.

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