Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, prior to making the decision to advance the funds necessary to facilitate the payment of a bond as detailed in Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 19 May 2004, his attention was drawn to the fact that the persons affected by this bond were participating in the exchange of know-how in terrorism and explosives for massive amounts of cash apparently to be spent on distorting democratic processes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3660/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The three individuals concerned were released from prison by a Colombian court under conditional freedom on payment of a bond. At the request of the defence team, and given in particular the on-going concern about the safety of the three people, the Department agreed to advance funds to cover the bond on the basis of a firm undertaking to repay the money involved. The decision was taken exclusively on consular grounds and was neither discussed nor taken at political level. The funds in question were repaid in full.