Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 526: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will make a provision for the EUFOR and KFOR troops serving in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina to conduct a search of the Medjugorje area for an Irish citizen (details supplied) who disappeared there. [37676/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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My colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs has the lead role in relation to this issue. I understand that extensive efforts have been made by the consular service of the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist and support the family at this difficult time. The consular service has also maintained ongoing contact with the local police force, rescue services, politicians and senior officials in the region in which the town of Medjugorje is situated. Diplomatic officers and our Ambassador have travelled from the Embassy in Slovenia, which is also accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the region 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.

In relation to the role of EUFOR and KFOR troops, as the Deputy will appreciate, these forces have a specific role in the region. As such, it would not be appropriate nor do I have the authority to task these forces to conduct searches for this person. That said, I understand that members of An Garda Síochána and of our Defence Forces on EU service in Bosnia and Herzegovina have participated actively and very helpfully in the searches for the missing person. I expect that the Defence Forces, within the requirements of their mission, will continue to assist in whatever way they can.