Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to assist a person (details supplied) in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39447/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been providing ongoing consular assistance to this citizen through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai.

Our Consul General has been meeting and engaging regularly with the citizen since we were first informed of this complex case last year, and continues to provide all possible consular support and advice.

Our focus has been on supporting the citizen’s well-being and welfare, while he and his legal team seek to resolve the outstanding legal matters with the local authorities.

I can further advise that the case has been raised regularly at senior political and diplomatic level with the relevant authorities in China, and with the Embassy of China to Ireland. These engagements have highlighted the humanitarian aspects of the case, and the importance of the citizen being allowed to leave China and return home as soon as possible.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate to discuss the details of any individual consular case, nor to comment on matters pertaining to a legal process in another jurisdiction. However I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the citizen until he is permitted to return to Ireland.