Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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194. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the arbitrary detention of a person (details supplied) who has been wrongly imprisoned in Dubai for seventeen years; and if he will meet with their spouse who is an Irish citizen and is campaigning for their release. [25158/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the continued detention of this person. At my request, officials in my Department recently met with his wife and family members and representatives to discuss his ongoing detention.

It is important to be clear that the person in question is a United Kingdom citizen. It is therefore the UK authorities, and their Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, that hold the consular responsibility and standing in relation to his case. I understand they have been active on his behalf over a long period.

However, his continued detention is a matter of concern, and officials in my Department are in contact with UK authorities to see if we can be helpful in this case. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not the practice to comment in detail on individual cases.