Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the investigation into the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21781/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I would like to confirm that the Department is in ongoing contact with the family of the person mentioned by the Deputy and is liaising with them on all aspects of the case. The Department was represented at the funeral of the deceased.

As the Deputy will be aware, after hearing of the death of this Irish citizen, Minister Martin T.D. immediately instructed the Irish Embassy in Argentina, which is also accredited to Bolivia, to send a diplomatic officer to Bolivia to represent the Government and also to look after the interests of the family.

While in Bolivia, the Irish Embassy representative 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).

The official expressed the Irish 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. The Irish Government representative also arranged for the repatriation of the body.

Minister Martin subsequently spoke by telephone to the Acting Foreign Minister and emphasised that the interest of the Irish Government in this case relates entirely to protecting the consular rights of our citizens abroad. He also emphasised that we have 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.

Minister Quintana assured Minister Martin that the Bolivian authorities wished to cooperate with the Irish Government to the fullest extent and advised that he would discuss the matter with President Morales. He further assured Minister Martin that the Bolivian authorities would take all necessary steps to collect all the evidence possible and that they would provide the Irish Government, through our Ambassador in Buenos Aires, with all reports, including copies of any interim findings.

A Parliamentary Commission with members drawn from both Government and Opposition members in Bolivia was established to inquire into this case. The Commission has yet to report.

Our Ambassador in Buenos Aires has formally requested copies of the post-mortem and ballistics reports and any interim investigation reports. She recently met with her Bolivian counterpart and reiterated the importance attached to receiving these as soon as possible.

Minister Martin also confirmed to the Acting Foreign Minister that the Irish Government would welcome the establishment of an international panel of investigation and that we are ready to assist and cooperate with such a panel, if the Bolivian Government decided to take this course.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to seek clarification from the Bolivian authorities of the precise circumstances of the death of the citizen concerned. The Consular Section of the Department Affairs will remain in direct contact with the family of the deceased and will continue to provide them with all possible consular assistance.