Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 68: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has taken up with the Dutch Ambassador the case of missing Irish man (details supplied) who went missing in the Netherlands on 23 October 2008; if so, the result of the contact with the Dutch Embassy; if he expressed his concern regarding this matter to the Dutch Ambassador; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17033/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The person referred to by the Deputy first came to the attention of my Department in November 2008. The family were concerned that there had been no contact from the individual and requested assistance in locating him. My Department has been providing consular assistance to the family since that time. Our Embassy in the The Hague, which has consular responsibility for Irish citizens in the Netherlands, has liaised directly with the Dutch authorities in the Netherlands. In such circumstances, the Netherlands' Ambassador to Ireland, whose primary consular duty is to Dutch citizens in Ireland, would not be the appropriate channel of communication with the Netherlands' authorities. In the weeks after the initial disappearance, the Embassy arranged a meeting, which was also attended by an Embassy official, between the family and the Dutch Police. At that meeting the Dutch Police gave assurances to the family that everything possible was being done to locate their missing relative. The Police Officer also provided his direct contact details to the family to that they could contact him if any new information was received by them. Representatives of the family have been in regular contact with my Department and the Embassy has sought an update on the case from the Dutch police. A response has been received today indicating that the Public Prosecutor has decided that the investigation into the disappearance will be re-examined.

In addition to liaising with the police, the Embassy facilitated a report on the case being broadcast by a Dutch missing persons television programme. The programme generated a number of leads around the world and my Department assisted the family in following up on those reports.

While my Department cannot interfere in the legal process of another State, we will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family. I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal sympathy to the family and to assure them of my full appreciation of the distress the disappearance of their loved one has caused.