Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance his Department is giving to the family of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who was murdered in Spain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25446/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 621: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the tragic death of a person (details supplied) in Spain in August 2005; if he will seek a definitive date for the release of the body; if he will use the authority he has to seek this date; if his Department will contact this person's mother; and if his Department will be of any assistance to the family of this person. [25784/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 621 together.

I am aware of the case to which the Deputies have referred. First, may I say that I, and all who have been involved in this case on behalf of the Government, have the greatest sympathy for the family concerned. My Department, through its consular division, the Irish Embassy in Madrid and the honorary consulate in Alicante, has been providing extensive consular assistance to the family since Sunday, 28 August 2005 when we became aware of the case.

The person mentioned by the Deputies was killed in a villa in the San Fulgencio area of Alicante and her partner was arrested in connection with the death. My Department, through the consular section and the Irish Embassy in Madrid, has been working on the case on a daily basis since notification of the death. Specific assistance provided to the family has included liaising with the family to ensure that the three children were looked after before they flew back to Ireland; assisting with the children's travel back to Ireland, including purchasing their tickets on the family's behalf; issuing emergency travel documents; contacting the court on a daily basis; and informing the family of any new information on the case.

However, the decision to release the remains is a matter for the Spanish court in question. At the same time, the embassy has made oral and written appeals directly to this court, asking for prompt repatriation.

In the meantime, my Department has been able to provide the family with a timeline for the completion of the forensic tests on the remains, which are expected to be finished tomorrow, 29 September. When the tests are completed, I can assure the Deputies that the embassy will again request that the judge release the body without delay so it can be brought back to Ireland. My Department should, depending on the Spanish response, be able to provide the family with a repatriation date at that stage.

I understand that the embassy has received the full co-operation of the Spanish authorities, which are carrying out a thorough investigation into her death, and I expect this co-operation to continue. In addition, in order to ensure that our efforts on behalf of the family continue to be advanced in every way possible, I have asked our ambassador in Madrid to travel to Alicante and to report back to me as a matter of urgency.