Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) now resident in an orphanage in Indonesia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18633/05]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if officials of his Department are still in contact with Indonesian authorities on behalf of a person (details supplied) resident in an orphanage in Indonesia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18634/05]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to enter into discussions with the Indonesian authorities in order that the best interests of a person (details supplied) are upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18780/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 86 and 154 together.

This is a most complex and highly sensitive case. The Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, outlined the case in detail to the House in recent weeks. I stress that from the beginning the Government has been actively engaged in seeking to find a solution to this difficult case. An embassy official was sent to the orphanage immediately after we learned of Tristan's situation to check on his welfare and, since then, the Department has been actively seeking clarity on his status. Tristan's welfare and best interests have always been and remain our foremost priority.

A delegation joined the Irish ambassador in Jakarta last month with instructions from the Government to take all appropriate steps to move this case forward. The delegation consisted of the deputy legal adviser of the Department of Foreign Affairs, a member of the Adoption Board and its senior social worker. During their visit they met Indonesian Government officials and others with the aim of seeking to identify the child's needs and working towards meeting them. For their part, the Indonesian authorities undertook to contact us shortly in relation to how they propose to deal with the situation. We will, of course, keep in close contact with them and, in this regard, the ambassador has returned to Jakarta this week for further meetings.

High Court proceedings against Joseph Dowse and Lala Dowse have been instigated by the Attorney General in his role as protector of the unprotected. As the matter is before the court, it is not appropriate to comment further.