Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made on the attempts in respect of a person (details supplied) to reunite them with their daughter; if he has raised this matter with his Hungarian counterpart; if he has made a complaint to the European Court of Justice against Hungary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39838/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been following developments closely in the case mentioned by the Deputy for the past twenty two months. The case involves the abduction of the child of an Irish citizen. My officials, both in Dublin and in the Embassy in Budapest have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen concerning this case. Diplomatic staff in our Embassy in Budapest, have met with the relevant authorities in Hungary on numerous occasions to raise our concerns.

Following the completion of legal proceedings in Hungary in July 2009, a bailiff was granted powers including police assistance to enforce an Order of the Hungarian High Court compelling the ex-wife to hand over the child to her father. On 29 July, when the bailiff went to a house in the village of Boconad in order to enforce the Order, he found that the mother had absconded with the child. Diplomatic staff from our Embassy and from the Embassy of France in Budapest were present in Boconad on that occasion to observe proceedings and provide consular assistance.

The Hungarian authorities subsequently issued a search warrant in respect of the child's mother but to date neither she nor the child have been found. The Embassy is maintaining close contact with the Hungarian police. On 28 October, following a report that the child was at an address in the town of Egar, the bailiff in the case went to the address accompanied by police officers but Fiona was not at this address. Diplomatic staff from our Embassy and the Embassy of France in Budapest were again present to observe proceedings and to provide consular assistance.

I wrote to the Hungarian Foreign Minister on 29 September and urged that the Hungarian authorities take all appropriate action to locate the child with a view to enforcing the Court Order. I am now awaiting a reply to this letter. I have also been in contact with my French counterpart Mr. Bernard Kouchner concerning this case. I can assure the Deputy I will continue to give a high priority to supporting the Irish citizen in question.