Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of his consultation with persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [11893/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been working closely with our Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate in Mumbai to provide consular assistance to the family of the Irish citizen at the centre of this tragic case, and officials remain in ongoing direct contact with the family. In the course of the past 17 months, my Department has provided extensive consular assistance in this case. My Department assisted with notifying the family of the death through the Gardaí. The Embassy in New Delhi assisted with the practicalities in the immediate aftermath of the death and the subsequent repatriation of the deceased’s remains. The Embassy also obtained the death certificate and arranged for the return to the family of personal items. The Consular Assistance team in my department in Dublin kept the family apprised of the progress of the repatriation and arranged the authentications of the death certificate and the deceased’s passport in order for the family to pursue certain formalities in Australia.

The Director of Consular Services met with the family on 30 November 2015 to discuss the case and to update them on developments. In India, our Honorary Consul in Mumbai has engaged with the local police to emphasise our pressing interest in this case and to seek updates on the investigation. In addition, the Embassy in New Delhi has been very active in seeking the relevant toxicology reports relating to this case.

My Department has received a request from the family to provide them with copies of certain other documents relating to the case and this matter is being actively pursued. I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance in this case.