Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 184: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been in contact with a person (details supplied) who is a victim of international child abduction; if his Department has provided any assistance to the family; and the current situation in relation to this matter. [25268/12]

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 2007. Since then, my Department, through the Consular Assistance Section and Embassy of Ireland in Cairo, has afforded all possible consular assistance to the family of the person mentioned. I wish to inform the Deputy that this case has been raised with the Egyptian authorities at the highest levels on a number of occasions.

I raised the case when I met with the Egyptian Foreign Minister in February 2012. I had previously discussed the case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister at the United National General Assembly in September 2011. In February 2010 Minister Micheál Martin raised the case with the Foreign Minister during a visit to Cairo.

The Embassy met with family members on several occasions and is in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities, the latest meeting with the Foreign Ministry was as recent as 26 April 2012. Also the family of this person has had several meetings with the Head of Consular Services.

The Consular Section will remain in contact with the family and, with the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo, will continue to provide all possible consular assistance.