Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the official visits made to Rome by a person (details supplied) since their appointment and with whom they have spoken in other parts of the Roman Curia; if the person met with Irish officials in the Curia; the cultural initiatives that have been promoted by the Irish Government in the Roman Curia, the Cultural Institutions of the Holy See Vatican Library, Vatican Archives, Vatican Museums, Vatican Astronomical Observatories, and the Academies of Science during this persons tenure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47033/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Deputy will appreciate the necessity for Ambassadors to conduct official business with a degree of discretion, and for that reason I do not propose to provide a list of persons with whom the Ambassador has met since his appointment. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am satisfied with the range of the Ambassador's diplomatic contacts, both within the Secretariat of State and the Roman Curia more widely, in particular in the relevant Pontifical Councils and Congregations, including with Irish officials. Ambassador Cooney has travelled to the Holy See on numerous occasions since the announcement of the Embassy closure in November 2011, the vast majority of which visits have taken place since he presented credentials in May 2012. In this context, the Ambassador has attended a full range of events, including the inauguration of Pope Francis to which he accompanied the President, and was present at the Pope's subsequent meeting with the Diplomatic Corps. During our Presidency earlier this year, for example, he hosted a meeting for European Union Heads of Mission at which the Holy See's Undersecretary for Relations with States was the guest of honour.

I am satisfied that the current arrangement for Ireland's representation at the Holy See is the most effective possible in light of the resource constraints faced by my Department.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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130. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recourse or assistance available to the family of an Irish passport holder who is found dead in a foreign country and whose manner of death as outlined by that country's police is contradicted by a highly regarded and competent investigator; if there is any requirements on the Irish Government to take up the case on a Government to Government basis and insist on a new and impartial investigation into the entire circumstances of the Irish citizen's death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47055/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers, which occurred in Botswana in 2006. My Department through the Embassy of Ireland in Maputo and the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin has provided consular assistance to the family of the deceased following his death and throughout the subsequent investigations. I wish to advise the Deputy that following the 2007 report of the initial investigation by Botswana Police and an inquest held in the Coroners court in Mallow in 2007, the case was reviewed by the Botswana Department of Defence, Justice and Security. The Report of the Review issued in 2011 took account of the report of the private investigator, to which the Deputy refers. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not appropriate for this Department to request a further investigation in this case, however, if the family wish to write a letter of complaint to the Botswana authorities, my Department will follow up on this. The family may wish to engage a lawyer in Botswana if they intend to pursue this case through the legal system in that country.

My Department remains available to provide consular assistance to the family.