Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of efforts to resolve the situation involving a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4021/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There has been extensive engagement on the referenced case at the most senior political and diplomatic levels. I can assure the Deputy that all possible efforts continue to be made through multiple channels – by myself as Minister and at senior political levels here in Dublin; as well as by our diplomats in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere throughout our diplomatic network.

This includes my discussions with the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wang Yi, when I met him in May during my visit to China, as well as my correspondence since then with the Minister reiterating my continuing serious concern about the case. There has also been communication at the Head of Government level by An Taoiseach.

In all cases, our engagement has stressed the urgent importance of the citizen being allowed to return home as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Department of Foreign Affairs has been providing ongoing consular advice, support and assistance to the citizen concerned.

As with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific details of the case, nor to comment publicly on any matters raised that are related to it.