Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will bring correspondence from a person (details supplied) to the attention of the Israeli authorities; his views on the experience outlined by the person during a visit to the West Bank; the action he will take on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10161/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am very concerned about the reported circumstances of this incident. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv last week raised the matter with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked that they investigate the circumstances.

This incident occurred during a recent visit to the West Bank by a group of Irish people who wished to observe the situation on the ground. There have been a number of such visits over the past year. My officials have drawn the attention of these groups to the Department's advice against travel to the Occupied Territories, on security grounds. The travel advice is set out in detail on the Department's website, www.dfa.ie. Our Representative Office in Ramallah has also met with the visiting groups in order to brief them on the political and security situation. In view of the increasingly tense and dangerous situation in the Occupied Territories, I would again strongly advise against any Irish citizens visiting the area.