Written answers

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Consular Services

10:00 pm

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he has made representations to the German authorities regarding this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15293/11]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that this case was discussed in the House as a matter for adjournment on 11 May 2011, and on that occasion I took the opportunity to give details of the consular assistance which had been offered to the family of the Irish citizen by my Department up to that point. I also publicly extended my sincere condolences to the family involved and assured them of my personal interest in the case. Since then, officials from my Department have met with family members. My Department has maintained ongoing contacts with them in order to facilitate their dealings with the German authorities on their case, and to facilitate their campaign to have the investigation into the tragic death of their son and brother reopened. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Embassy of Ireland in Berlin, has been liaising with the German authorities since we were notified of the case. My Department will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family and will continue to facilitate their dealings with the relevant German authorities in the pursuit of their aims.

It is the understanding of my Department, at this point, that the family wishes to submit the findings of the Deputy State Pathologist to the office of the State Prosecutor in Baden Wurttemberg. Our Embassy in Berlin will assist with the submission of these documents, and will ensure that they are forwarded, under cover letter to the relevant authorities.

I expect the German authorities to deal with all the operational matters involved in the investigations. As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department is not in a position to intervene in the German legal process and we have advised the family to take professional legal advice on their current position and on the legal avenues that may be available to them in the pursuit of their case.

I can assure the Deputy that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through our Embassy in Berlin, and our Consular Section in Dublin, will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family, and will continue to facilitate their dealings with the relevant German authorities in this difficult case.

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the support he will give to Irish citizens (details supplied) who paid down moneys for property in Italy which have not, nor ever will be, built and whose moneys have disappeared. [15731/11]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding an Irish citizen who paid for property in Italy, the owner of lands claimed that he had no knowledge of the sale of the site and subsequently agents were forced to admit receipt of moneys and offered a substitute property and despite this UK solicitors acting for the Irish citizen have been unable to force a satisfactory response or solution from the seller; and the support or help he will give to this person. [15478/11]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 91 together. I can confirm that the Embassy in Rome has been in contact with a number of Irish citizens that have experienced difficulties in relation to their purchases of property in Italy, including the case referred to in the Deputy's question.

The Deputy will be aware that the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs concerning private property transactions by Irish nationals abroad is limited, and that redress in such cases must be sought through the relevant legal system. The Embassy can provide a list of English-speaking lawyers to the individuals concerned, however I understand that independent legal advice has already been engaged in this case. The Department would agree that the correct course of action is to pursue the matter through legal channels.

The Embassy in Rome will continue to assist Irish investors in any way open to it, including in finding suitable legal representation.

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