Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who became ill while on holiday in Turkey and died shortly after their return to Ireland and of the difficulties experienced by their family in terms of inadequacy of consular assistance that they received while in Turkey at the time; the training in place to ensure all staff are familiar with and deliver on his Department's Consular Service Charter; the steps he will take in order that no family is left without the necessary supports and assistance in the future. [14076/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to take this opportunity to express again my deepest sympathy to the family of the person mentioned by the Deputy.

I can assure the Deputy that our Embassy in Ankara and the Consular Division in Dublin provided extensive consular assistance to the family involved. Embassy staff were available at all times to support the family concerned from their arrival in Turkey. Embassy staff remained in regular telephone contact with and spoke regularly to members of the family party for the duration of their stay. They also spoke regularly on behalf of the family to the doctors treating the woman.

I am assured that at no point did the family express to the Embassy any dissatisfaction about the assistance that they were providing. I am sorry, therefore, to learn that the family have since expressed unhappiness at the level of support which they received.

I understand that this is a very difficult time for the family concerned. On my instructions, officials from my Department have been in direct contact with the family to arrange for us to meet to discuss the issues of concern to them. I can assure the Deputy that I place considerable importance on our Embassies and Consulates, around the world, providing the best possible consular service to Irish citizens. This is a core policy of my Department, and I can confirm that extensive training is provided to diplomatic and consular officials prior to overseas posting to assure that they are ready and able to assist Irish citizens in distress and their families. I would confirm that my Department remains available to provide any feasible assistance to the family concerned.