Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who is married to an Irish citizen and has been detained arbitrarily in the UAE for the past 17 years; the steps his Department is taking to provide consular assistance and seek his release from arbitrary detention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38291/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Is the Tánaiste's Department aware of the case of Ryan Cornelius, who is married to an Irish citizen and has been detained arbitrarily in the UAE for the past 17 years? What steps is it taking to provide consular assistance to Mrs. Cornelius and to seek Ryan's release from arbitrary detention?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this question and giving me an opportunity to provide some further information about the matter, as I am sure she will provide the same to me. I am aware of this case and have been apprised of the details. I spoke with officials in my Department on the matter as recently as yesterday and have asked them to meet with Mr. Cornelius's wife, family members and representatives to discuss his ongoing detention and explore possible avenues for our engagement.

As the Deputy is aware, the person in question is a citizen of the United Kingdom. In these circumstances – and this is as a matter of law rather than my opinion of the world - it is the UK authorities and their embassy in the United Arab Emirates that hold the consular responsibility in this case. Furthermore, from the perspective of the United Arab Emirates authorities, they are bound to deal only with the authorities of the United Kingdom. That is a reality we are facing. It is my understanding that the British authorities have been and are active on behalf of Mr. Cornelius throughout his detention. I am happy to have a perspective on that too.

Officials in my Department, including at the Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi, are in contact with the UK authorities on this matter. I must emphasise that my officials will be guided by the primary consular protection authority in our actions. Our interest in the case was discussed with a senior UAE minister during her recent visit to Ireland and we will continue to keep this under review. I will not overly comment on individual cases other than to say we will do anything we can that is helpful. Helpful is the important word in this regard. We wish to be helpful. My officials meeting with Mr. Cornelius’s wife, family and representatives will be an important step in exploring that.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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I welcome that the Department will meet with Heather, her legal team and her brother-in-law, who is assisting her. When I wrote to the Minister about this matter on 13 May, I received a reply similar to what the Minister has just outlined, that is, that the responsibility for this case lies with the British consulate. Heather is an Irish citizen, as we have established. She is a victim of this injustice and is raising her children alone as a result. She has been separated from her husband, who has been arbitrarily detained for 17 years. She now faces the reality that, at the age of 71, she may experience him dying in prison. We have to help her, as a citizen of this country. Although the technical consular responsibility lies with the UK, we can help her. I do not agree that the UK has supported Heather and her family. They have been very frustrated with their experience. While the family has asserted, as the Minister said, that the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been helpful, the weight of the Department of foreign affairs needs to be put behind this issue.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am conscious that I am talking to a family through the prism of the Dáil. I wish to be respectful of that reality. I thank Deputy Gibney for writing to me on this matter. My officials will meet with Heather, the family and Mr. Cornelius's representatives because we want to be helpful. While this might sound like a frustrating thing to say, and I can understand why, this case requires exploration as to what is helpful. I do not wish to do anything, accidentally or otherwise, that would be unhelpful. The UAE has a clear view that it engages with one consular authority. Obviously, law is also clear in that regard. What I can say is that Ireland raised this matter with the UAE minister who visited Ireland recently. Our interest in the case was discussed in some detail with that senior minster during her recent visit to Ireland. The Irish embassy in the UAE continues to engage with the UAE authorities and we are also raising it with the British authorities. I am happy to have a direct word with Deputy Gibney in this regard. I am also happy to ensure the meeting takes place as quickly as possible.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Speed is of the essence because they have reached their wits' end with support from the UK. That is why Heather has turned to Ireland, essentially, for help. At the 93rd session of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 2022, it found Ryan Cornelius to be arbitrarily detained. There were massive procedural issues with the original conviction in 2008. There are a huge number of issues to deal with. Meanwhile, Heather remains separated from her husband, raising her children alone. The legal team around her has provided incredible support. While it has kept this case at the top of its agenda and kept the pressure on the UK Government, it has received little response. I am delighted to hear the Tánaiste's Department will meet with Heather to provide her with the support that we can as a country.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We will absolutely do that. I am happy to keep in direct contact with the Deputy on this issue. I cannot imagine how difficult, traumatic and upsetting a time this must be for Heather, her children and the wider Cornelius family. As I said, I do not wish to accidentally endeavour to intervene in a way that is unhelpful. That would be the worst thing to happen. We are very eager to engage with Heather to, in the first instance, discuss her perspective and experience, including her dealings with the UK authorities and the assistance they are legally bound to provide to Mr. Cornelius, which I am told they are providing, and also to explore that to see what assistance may be appropriate or helpful from Irish authorities. I will make sure that happens as quickly as possible.