Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on an incident detailed in the press statement (details supplied) issued by representatives of the International Transport Workers Federation; and if he will issue a directive that ships' crew in similar situations will be supported by the Gardaí and his Department. [7083/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I would like at the outset to make it clear that the men concerned were not deported from the State nor were they detained at any time but were returned to their country of origin to be reunited with their families as they themselves had requested. In this regard, when the people concerned were located by An Garda Síochána, a spokesman on their behalf alleged that they had been the subject of poor working conditions while on board the vessel concerned and that they had not been paid by the owners of the vessel for work done. The spokesman made it clear that they would not return to the vessel and that they wished to return to their country of origin. The spokesman indicated that they wished to make contact with their embassy. They made no request to contact any other body or agency. Contact was made by the local Garda Síochána with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at Dublin with a view to determining the appropriate course to be taken. The GNIB in turn contacted officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS). The request to make contact with Consular officials at their Embassy in London, was facilitated and INIS made inquiries with a view to sourcing accommodation for the people concerned, which resulted in accommodation being provided at no cost to them until they were repatriated.

Neither INIS nor An Garda Síochána is aware of any proceedings being initiated over the 11 days during which the vessel was at port, which would have prevented the vessel from leaving this jurisdiction and there is no provision in immigration related legislation which could have given rise to such a situation. The issue of the alleged dispute regarding conditions and payment of wages is not a matter for my Department or An Garda Síochána. I am informed that the in relation to the issue of payment of wages to the crew onboard fishing vessels that this is the responsibility of the flag state, which in this case is the United Kingdom. However, if the people concerned are required to return to Ireland in connection with the alleged dispute, it is open to them to seek an Irish entry visa for that purpose. I can inform the Deputy that all the people concerned have now travelled back safely to their country of origin.