Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action his Department is taking in conjunction with Bulgarian officials to investigate the illegal trade of bodily organs as referred to in a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43171/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to combat the illegal trade of organs of Irish people who die abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43172/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.

On being contacted by a member of the family, I have taken a close personal interest in the case concerning the removal of the internal organs of an Irish citizen who had died in Bulgaria. I am also deeply conscious of the distress suffered by this family.

On learning of the case, I immediately instructed our Embassy in Sofia to raise the issue with the Bulgarian authorities to establish the reasons for the removal of the organs, and to secure their release and return to the family. I also instructed that the issue be raised with our partners at EU level, through the Consular Affairs Working Group.

As a result of our initiative, a working group of EU countries was mandated to look at repatriation of remains from Bulgaria. It was clear from the discussions at EU level that some other countries, including the UK and the Nordic countries, were experiencing similar problems.

On 10 October of this year, following sustained efforts by the Embassy in Sofia, the Regional Prosecutor in Varna informed the Embassy that the investigation into the death had concluded, and that the hospital in Varna had been ordered to ensure that the remaining organs were preserved properly in preparation for release and transportation. The organs were subsequently returned to the family on 1 November.

On 22 November, the Bulgarian Minister for Health informed our Embassy that he had drafted an ordinance that would ensure that in future all organs are repatriated with the body following autopsy. I very much welcome this response to the initiatives we have taken, supported by our EU colleagues.