Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of times his Department has given, advanced or lent funds for the payment of a bond on behalf of Irish citizens facing prosecution or criminal investigation overseas for each of the past five years; the criteria according to which a decision is made to provide such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4385/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department advanced funds to facilitate the payment of a bond on behalf of Irish citizens on one occasion during the past five years. The funds were advanced on 25th June 2004 to facilitate the release of three Irish citizens from prison in Colombia in accordance with the ruling of the court. My Department, at the request of the defence team and given the very serious and ongoing consular concerns of the Department at the time about the safety of the persons concerned while in jail, advanced the funds to facilitate the payment of this bond, on the basis of a firm undertaking to repay the sum involved . The full amount was subsequently repaid to the Department. There was no Ministerial involvement in the decision to advance the funds which was taken strictly on consular grounds.

My Department will only advance funds for the payment of bail or a bond on behalf of Irish citizens facing prosecution abroad in the most exceptional circumstances, where there is considered to be a real risk to the life of those concerned and on the basis of firm assurances that the amount will be repaid in full.