Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts which have been made to determine and monitor the welfare and safety of Irish born children of migrant parents, including asylum seekers, who have been refused residency and returned to their parents' country oforigin; and if the children will have access to consular services and protection. [16039/06]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is ascertained and procedures put in place to ensure that an Irish born child of migrant parents, including asylum seekers, who have been refused residency and deported, will not be discriminated against or made to suffer or face deportation as a non-citizen of the parents' country of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16040/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together.

Consular facilities are available to all Irish citizens who live or travel abroad and who seek such assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs or any of our Missions abroad. In providing consular services, my Department is guided by a number of international instruments on human rights and consular relations. These prescribe the rights of States in acting to protect the interests of their citizens abroad. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), a State's Consular function includes safeguarding the interests of minors, within the laws and regulations of the receiving State. The entitlement of Irish citizens abroad to consular services does not depend on the nationality or immigration status of their parents.

The holding of dual citizenship does not diminish the entitlement of an Irish citizen to seek Irish consular protection, with one exception. Under international law, a State cannot extend consular protection to a citizen who holds dual nationality if that citizen is residing in the country of the citizen's second nationality, unless the relevant States agree otherwise.

As regards the monitoring dimension, which was raised by the Deputy, I should point out that the primary responsibility for the protection and welfare of children resides, of course, with their parents. However, our Embassy and consular officials abroad are always ready to respond to requests for assistance from Irish citizens.