Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in regard to the repatriation and treatment in the case of a person (details supplied); if an effort has been made to establish contact with the person or their family here to offer assistance or protection, legal, medical or psychiatric advice; if an effort has been made to ascertain the extent to which they have been treated in accordance with their constitutional rights as an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44011/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Embassy in London has contacted the relevant prison in Britain (Foston Hall). The prison authorities were, however, reluctant to release any information on the person concerned as prisoners have the right not to have information about their personal circumstances used without their express permission. Personal information is, I should add, safeguarded under the British Data Protection Act.

Foston Hall is a dedicated female prison with a capacity of just under 300, of which 80 are usually on remand. It is not a mental hospital and does not have a dedicated medical/ psychiatric facility. It would seem, therefore, that the person mentioned by the Deputy may be held on a "normal" criminal charge.

My Department has not been contacted either by the person mentioned or any member of her family, but will, of course, be happy to receive an approach from them.