Written answers

Thursday, 2 November 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

Diplomatic Representation

5:00 pm

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether Defence Forces personnel currently serving in Bosnia might be able to give assistance to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36021/06]

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance his Department has given to persons (details supplied); if the family have made further requests for assistance; if he is considering their request; if he will meet with the immediate family and hear their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36019/06]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 166 together.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Slovenia, which is also accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina, has provided active consular assistance and support to the family of the person in question. In this regard, the Embassy in Slovenia has been in on-going contact with the relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including with the local police force, rescue services, politicians and senior officials in the region in which the town of Medjugorje is situated.

A diplomatic officer of the Embassy travelled to the region to liaise with local police, relevant agencies and with officials involved in the search. During the visit, the officer also had many meetings with family members of the missing person. Subsequently, our Ambassador travelled to Medjugorje, and to the regional capital Mostar, to review the search arrangements.

Since the person's disappearance, there has been six large scale searches, some of which involved the use of a helicopter. In addition to these large scale searches, there have been other, more localised, searches. The searching continues, and an officer from our Embassy will again shortly visit Medjugorje to review the situation.

Members of An Garda Síochána and of our Defence Forces on EU service in Bosnia and Herzegovina have also participated actively and, I might add, very helpfully in the searches for the missing person.

I can assure the Deputy that, since the person's disappearance, the Consular Division of the Department have provided all possible consular assistance and support. My Department will continue to meet with family members, and I am being kept fully informed of the situation. If it were considered helpful at some stage, I would of course be happy to arrange a personal meeting. However, I understand that in the most recent contact with the person's husband on 31 October, he has stated that he is not seeking a meeting with me. He also expressed warm appreciation for all the assistance he has received from the Department and from the Embassy in Slovenia. I can also confirm that senior officials of the Consular Division recently met with other family members of the person in question.

As already conveyed by Minister of State Lenihan in last evening's adjournment debate, I would wish to confirm that the Department will continue to provide all possible consular assistance and support including, as indicated above, a third visit at an early date by an officer of the Embassy to Medjugorje to review the search operation.

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