Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department's commitment and his embassy's contribution in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been missing in Paris since 9 September 2007 when he left his hotel to take a walk; his and his embassy's previous contact with the French police; and if they have agreed a continuing arrangement for the search for the Irish citizen. [23917/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have taken a close personal interest in this distressing case since first being made aware of it. The Taoiseach and I met the wife and son of the person referred to by the Deputy on 22 September in our Embassy in Paris. During this meeting, we assured them of our ongoing support and continued determination to provide all possible consular assistance. I understand that the family also met the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 21 September.

Our Embassy has been in daily contact with the missing person's family since the day of his disappearance and our Ambassador has met family members on several occasions. Embassy officials remain in regular contact with the missing persons unit of the French police and have accompanied the family to all of their meetings with the police. Our Ambassador met senior officers in the unit to emphasise the importance my Department attaches to the case. At the family's request, Embassy officials also secured agreement from the police to conduct searches of particular sites and areas. The Embassy has also made regular contact with the central office for unidentified persons in French hospitals and direct contact with hospitals in the greater Paris region.

A description of the person referred to by the Deputy has been sent to every hospital in Paris and the Ambassador has written personally to 102 hospital directors with relevant information. Assistance has also been provided by my Department in raising public awareness in France about the case. The family and the Embassy prepared a poster in English and in French with the missing man's photograph and a request for assistance. Over 1,000 copies of this poster have been distributed to hospitals, Irish bars and English speaking businesses in Paris. The poster also appears prominently on the Embassy's website and was distributed on all Ryanair and Aer Lingus flights to Paris during the Rugby World Cup period.

I regret that despite these extensive efforts, there has been no indication of the whereabouts of the individual concerned. I assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to remain in close contact with the family and to provide them with all possible consular assistance.