Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the efforts of the Irish Government to secure the release of a person (details supplied) who is currently imprisoned in Iran. [19753/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I remain extremely concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his ill health. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department.

To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement by the Government with the authorities in Iran on the case. I have discussed the matter with the Foreign Minister of Iran, and contact is being maintained at official and political levels.

In our engagement we are stressing the urgent importance of the citizen being released from prison on humanitarian grounds, in light of his deteriorating medical condition.

My Department is providing ongoing consular support and assistance to the citizen and to his family, with whom I have been in direct contact. We are liaising with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.

As with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific details of the case.