Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I wish to mention the case of the three men in Colombia who were found not guilty of the major charge against them. The case against them appears to have been fundamentally flawed. For that reason and for the sake of their families the verdict is to be welcomed. I support calls for the men to be returned even if that means they would have to serve their sentences here. I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Department to consider this option. I have the same view on prisoners abroad in a similar plight and it is a general principle that should be applied. If this case is debated in the House, questions should be asked about why people travel on false passports, particularly at a time when the issue of Irish citizenship is being examined.

I ask the Leader to speak to the Minister for Education and Science about the plight of Mr. Tom Sweeney who is on the 13th day of his hunger strike outside Leinster House. I spoke today to him and his representatives. He has grievances about his experience with the redress board. The group SOCA is talking to him. In a letter the Minister for Education and Science stated he did not have time at present to meet them.

I urge the Leader to ask the Minister to meet this man to discuss his grievances and see what can be done.