Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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142. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken by his Department in the case of a person (details supplied); the specific efforts that have been taken to date to assist this person; the steps that are currently being taken to expedite an appeal, particularly in view of grave medical concerns, both physical and psychological; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21148/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am very awareof the extremely difficult circumstances in which this individual and his family find themselves. I have personally raised my concerns about the case, and about the health and wellbeing of the individual concerned, with my Philippines counterpart, most recently at the UN in New York last September. My Department officials in Dublin, at and our Embassy in Singapore and at our Honorary Consulate in the Philippines have provided practical advice and support in a range of different ways since the individual was first arrested. The Government has consistently emphasised to the Philippines authorities our serious concerns for the rights and welfare of our Irish citizen, explaining and underlining the humanitarian considerations in the case. It is important to remember that this is an ongoing legal case and that it is for the citizen’s legal representatives to advise him and to act on his behalf in matters before the courts.

Our Embassy in Singapore received a notice in April from the Supreme Court ordering the elevation of the records to the Supreme Court from the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court’s letter noted that the Embassy of Ireland in Singapore had submitted a request that the appeal hearing be expedited on humanitarian grounds.

Let me assure you that my Department continues to prioritise this case and that Department officials in Dublin, our Embassy in Singapore and our Honorary Consulate in the Philippines will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance to this individual and to his family.