Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a person (details supplied) is being detained in Iraq; the actions being taken on behalf of this person; if representations have been made to the US or Iraqi Governments to protect their human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24408/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, my Department strongly advises Irish citizens to avoid all travel to Iraq given the extremely unstable political and security situation in the country. Those in Iraq are urged to leave. This advice is provided on our website, www.dfa.ie, and is updated on a regular basis. Despite this clear advice, I understand the person referred to by the Deputy travelled to Iraq earlier this year to visit relatives. He was taken into custody by the Multi National Forces in Baghdad on 20 May and is being held for suspected terrorist related offences.

Since first being made aware of the case on 24 May, my Department has been in regular contact with the family in Ireland. My officials have also sought information on the case from the United States Embassy in Dublin. Our Embassy in Cairo has also made enquiries on behalf of the family with the British Embassy in Baghdad. My Department has kept the family fully informed of all the information we have received to date in relation to the case. In addition to being an Irish citizen and passport holder, I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy was born in Iraq and may be considered by the authorities there to be an Iraqi citizen, as well as having Irish nationality. While this dual status complicates our official representations, my Department will continue to monitor the case and to keep the family informed of developments.