Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to the recent detention of Jeyasundaram in Sri Lanka, considered illegal by UNWGAD, the reason there was no Irish diplomatic presence on the release date to ensure their release proceeded and to further ensure safety out of Sri Lanka. [9263/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which information has been made available to him or his Department arising from the on-going detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied), in Sri Lanka; if their continued detention and the procedures to date followed by the authorities there are in accord with international law and human rights principles; if he is in a position to take any action at EU and or UN level with a view to ensuring that international procedures are strictly observed, that diplomatic access is available; whether in the absence of adherence to due process a request can be made for their repatriation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9267/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions No. 77 and No. 78 together.

As the Deputy will be aware from previous responses to questions in relation to the person named my officials remain in close and direct contact with the person’s wife and family and they liaise directly with her on all developments in his case. The Ambassador and officers in the Embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Sri Lanka, and the Honorary Consul of Ireland Office in Colombo have also been very active in this difficult case. The person named by the Deputy has been detained in Sri Lanka since 5 September 2007. No charge was brought against him until 29 January 2013. I am informed that at his trial on that date a sentence of one month was imposed on him. Subsequently, he was informed that he would be released on Tuesday, 12 February 2013. Based on this information his family made flight arrangements for him to return to Ireland. Officials from the Honorary Consulate attended the prison on 12 February to be present on his release and to offer any possible consular assistance. They were informed that the release would not go ahead and that four charges would be brought against him.

I am personally very concerned about this latest development and especially by the sudden manner by which his release was revoked. I have written to the Minister for External Affairs expressing in the strongest possible terms my disappointment and concern at the latest developments in this case and asking that the Minister act to ensure that all possible due process of law is afforded to the person named by the Deputy. Arrangements have been made for our Ambassador in New Delhi to travel to Sri Lanka today, Wednesday, 20 February in order that he may pay a prison visit to him. The Ambassador also requested a meeting with the Sri Lankan Minister for External Affairs and he will personally deliver my letter to the Minister.

My Department will continue to take every opportunity to seek to discuss this case bilaterally with the Sri Lankan authorities and at international fora. I can assure the Deputy that all possible consular assistance will continue to be provided in this very difficult case and that my officials will continue to liaise with the family of the person named by the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if in conjunction with his EU and UN colleagues, it has been found possible to engage with the authorities in Pakistan in the aftermath of the shooting of a person (details supplied) with a view to establishing support for the views she holds and has highlighted; if the authorities in her home country are amenable to the cause to which she is espoused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9268/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply of 16 January concerning this matter. The Deputy will be aware that there was widespread revulsion at the attempted murder of Malala Yousafzai last October. The shooting was condemned by the High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, and the Secretary General of the Nations, Ban Ki-Moon. I too expressed and continue to express my utter condemnation of this appalling act. Like many others, I admire Malala Yousafzai’s courageous efforts to promote the fundamental right to education and her efforts to achieve education for women and girls in Pakistan and other regions worldwide.

During Pakistan’s most recent UN Universal Periodic Review in October 2012, Ireland urged the Government of Pakistan to give consideration to adopting measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions. We also recommended that the Government of Pakistan invite the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders to conduct an independent visit to Pakistan.

The EU engages in regular dialogue with Pakistan on human rights and democratic principles, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The EU has called on the Pakistani authorities, at the highest level, to adopt measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with the Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions. In particular, High Representative Ashton, met Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in December 2012 to discuss a range of issues, including an exchange on the case of Malala Yousafzai.

The Government of Pakistan has confirmed to my Department that the views espoused by Malala Yousafzai, in the words of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, represent Pakistan’s future and Pakistan’s hope. The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari and his daughter, during a visit to Britain recently, visited Malala Yousfazai in hospital in Birmingham, while undergoing treatment for and recuperating from her injuries. I am also informed that Malala Yousafzai is applauded and supported by all political parties in Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan, to underline its support for the views espoused by Malala Yousafzai has, I understand, appointed her father as Education Attaché at the Pakistani Consulate in Birmingham, and that by these acts there is a clear message of Pakistani Government support for equal access to education for boys and girls.