Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the case of persons (details supplied) if the Irish State is responsible and does its duty include verification of State documents made in Ireland but which are claimed as falsified abroad by a judicial court or authority; if he will be in a position to be able to verify genuine Irish documents on behalf of the men involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35694/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can authenticate documents executed in Ireland that are to be used in other countries. Irish Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad can legalise documents executed abroad for use in Ireland. Authenticating a document simply means confirming that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on the document is genuine. Legalising a document means authenticating it for the purpose of making it acceptable to an Irish court.

Authentication and legalisation do not mean that the content of a document is accurate or that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade approves of the content.

I understand that the wife of the person detained had a meeting with our Ambassador yesterday to discuss this further.