Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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144. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 4 May 2017, the measures taken to assist the person in expediting their appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30339/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is continuing to provide ongoing assistance to the individual at the centre of this long-running and difficult consular case.

Because the matter relates to a process that is ongoing before the judiciary in another country, there are limits to what the Irish Government can do. However, our interests in and concerns about this case have been raised with the Philippines authorities at every available opportunity.

In November 2016 the Embassy of Ireland in Singapore, which is accredited to The Philippines, made a direct approach to the Supreme Court Administrator in Manila, requesting on behalf of the Irish Government that the appeal hearing in our citizen’s case be expedited on humanitarian grounds.

On 11th January 2017 an official from our Embassy travelled to Manila and followed up on that representation by raising the case directly and at a senior level with the Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Embassy official underlined our concerns for the citizen’s health and welfare in view of the length of time it has taken for the appeal to be heard.

In April we received a notification from the Supreme Court Administrator informing us that the Court was 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 had submitted a request that the appeal hearing be expedited on humanitarian grounds.

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.

Let me assure the Deputy and the House that my Department will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance to the citizen concerned and his family.