Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he would meet the family of a person (details supplied) who is an Irish citizen and has been arbitrarily detained in Sri Lanka since September 2009. [33445/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's consular officials remain in close and direct contact with the wife and family here in Ireland of the person mentioned by him, a dual national of Sri Lanka and Ireland, who was arrested on 5 September 2007 on arrival at Colombo Airport in Sri Lanka. My Department liaises directly with his wife on any request for assistance and on any developments in his case. Our Ambassador and officers in our Embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Sri Lanka, have also been very active in pursuit of progress in this difficult case.

At a meeting between his wife and senior officials from my Department in July it was agreed that if there was no progress in a Fundamental Rights Hearing before the Sri Lankan Courts scheduled to take place on 30 August 2011 then I would write to the Sri Lankan Minister for External Affairs. As the case was postponed to 31 October 2011, I have as agreed written to the Sri Lankan Minister for External Affairs asking that the person concerned either be charged or be released from custody as soon as possible.

I can let the Deputy know that the most recent development is that his case is further postponed to 28 November 2011, in order, I understand, to allow the State Counsel time to file indictments against him. Our Ambassador is scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka and intends paying a prison visit to the person concerned on 25 November. I can assure you that my Department will be in contact with his wife following the visit.

I would also be ready to meet the wife of the person mentioned following the Ambassador's visit. I can assure you that in the meantime all possible consular assistance will continue to be provided to the person concerned and to his wife and family.