Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputies and the House that the Government remains most concerned about the well-being and health of this Irish citizen. We have made our concerns perfectly clear to senior Filipino officials on a number of occasions at face to face meetings, and we will continue to do so. The Deputies will appreciate that because of the separation of powers, the Philippines Government cannot interfere in ongoing judicial proceedings, nor can I interfere in the criminal justice system in any other country. However, I acknowledge this is a most difficult time for this individual and his family. I assure the Deputies that my officials and myself will continue to treat this matter as a priority.

I want to deal with the passport issue mentioned. Both Deputies stated that the passport has been confiscated. I confirm that the passport is being held as one of the conditions of Mr. Ó Cochláin's bail. Obviously, the effect of that is that he is unable to return to Ireland. Following the release of the individual on bail, the embassy in Singapore issued him with a letter confirming his Irish citizenship as a form of identity. There is no doubt that the case has been further complicated, as the Deputies stated, by severe counter drugs actions being pursued by the new Government in the Philippines. I have relayed my concern and the concern of my Government to the Filipino authorities and I will continue to do so at every opportunity.

I want to make it clear to the House that my Department enjoys a very high reputation in terms of the exceptional levels of consular care we provide to Irish citizens abroad. My officials are known to go above and beyond what is considered the usual practice for a country in terms of consular care. They deal in a dedicated and sensitive way with a huge volume of consular cases, often in very challenging circumstances. Already this year we have dealt with over 1,500 cases.

In general, it is the Department's policy not to comment in detail publicly on individual consular cases. I ask the Deputies and Members of this House to respect that position and come to me directly if there are concerns about a particular Irish citizen.

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