Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who has requested repatriation on medical grounds; the assistance which can be given by the Irish Embassy; and if he has raised the issue with his British counterparts. [15631/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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This case continues to be monitored by my Department through the Irish Embassy in London, which remains in contact with the prison authorities. In particular, the embassy has made representations to the prison authorities in relation to the medical condition of the person. A diplomatic officer from the embassy is due to visit the person in the next few weeks.

As regards possible repatriation, I am informed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that his Department received the formal application for transfer of the person concerned from the United Kingdom authorities in September, 2005. Various reports were then sought and received by that Department from bodies in this jurisdiction. The State's legal officers reviewed the application in order to ensure that the requirements of the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of Sentenced Persons and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997 were satisfied. Having received their advices in the matter, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has requested and is awaiting a further document from the British authorities in relation to this application. This is expected in the near future.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would expect, upon review of this further document by the State's legal officers, to be in a position to make a decision on the application.