Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the explanation given by the Bolivian authorities for the shooting of an Irish citizen in suspicious circumstances by security forces in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16110/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the full extent to which his Department has sought clarification from the Bolivian authorities arising from the shooting of an Irish citizen in that country; the extent to which full details have been provided by the Bolivian authorities or are awaited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16111/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to express again my deepest sympathy to the family of the Irish citizen who lost his life in such tragic circumstances in Bolivia.

My Department are in ongoing contact with the family and have liaised with them on securing the release and repatriation of his remains. I understand that his remains are due to return to Ireland later this week.

As the Deputy will be aware, after hearing of this person's death, I immediately instructed the Irish Embassy in Argentina, which is also accredited to Bolivia, to send a diplomatic officer there to represent the Government and also to look after the concerns of the family. He initially travelled to Santa Cruz, where the death of the Irish citizen occurred, and then to the Bolivian capital, La Paz.

While in Santa Cruz, the Irish Embassy representative had extensive contact with local officials, who were helpful and cooperative. As a result, it was possible to secure the timely release of the remains and for arrangements to be put in place for the body to be repatriated to Ireland for burial.

The Embassy representative also had meetings with the Bolivian Vice President, the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Vice Minister of the Interior, the Investigating Attorney in charge of the case, and the Investigating Officer from the Anti –Crime Special Force (FELCE), who is in charge of the police investigation. He expressed the Government's concern at reports on the circumstances surrounding the death and enquired from the Bolivian authorities as to the steps they were taking to discover the facts of the case.

Conflicting reports have emerged from Bolivia as to whether the authorities would welcome foreign participation in the investigation of the incident. I have made clear that the Irish Government is ready to assist with and cooperate in any enquiries.

I spoke to Acting Foreign Minister Quintana by telephone last night and emphasised that our interest in this case relates entirely to protecting the consular rights of our citizens abroad. The Irish Government has a duty to seek the facts in a case where one of our citizens was killed in a violent incident by the security forces in another country.

I made clear that the Irish Government had no involvement in or sympathy with any attempt to destabilise Bolivia or in any attempt to attack the democratically elected President of a friendly State.

Mr Quintana indicted that the Bolivian Government will provide the Irish authorities with all reports on the events in Santa Cruz and will cooperate fully in establishing the truth. I will be writing to Minister Quintana to reiterate our consular interest in the case and to welcome his commitment to working with the Irish Government to establish the full facts of the case.

I can assure the Deputy that this Department through our Embassy in Buenos Aires and the Consular Section will remain in direct contact with the family of the person referred to by him and will provide all possible consular assistance to them.