Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 37: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has considered the case of persons (details supplied) both of whom are imprisoned; his view on this situation; if he proposes to assist these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26301/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am aware of the situation concerning the two men referred to by the Deputy. As neither of them is an Irish citizen it is not possible for my Department to offer them consular assistance. The Greek authorities are under no legal obligation to assist our Embassy with any requests made in connection with this investigation, as we have no locus standi in the matter. However, on hearing of Mr. Marku's predicament, and notwithstanding the fact that he is not a citizen of Ireland, the Irish Embassy in Athens made contact with the Greek police in an effort to convey the Irish Government's interest in this case on the basis that he is married to an Irish citizen. It was made clear to our Embassy that the authorities in Crete would not provide them with any information regarding this investigation owing to the fact that no Irish citizen was involved in the case.

To clarify further, the Embassy has certain rights of communication and contact with Irish citizens in Greece to facilitate the exercise of our consular functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). This Embassy has no such rights for other persons, even if they are related to Irish citizens.