Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. None of us can comprehend the agony the Tighe family must be experiencing since Jean went missing in Portugal on 17 July 2020. She was reported missing, I think, by her boyfriend at the time. The family had not been contacted regarding her disappearance and in March 2021 they lodged a missing persons report with An Garda Síochána. I understand that Portuguese police have been investigating her disappearance but that sadly no strong leads have materialised as of yet. A member of An Garda Síochána in Portugal, the Irish Embassy in Lisbon and the ambassador have engaged with Portuguese police a number of times. The Tighe family has also been working with a family liaison officer. In August of last year, An Garda Síochána and the Portuguese police met via video conference and Ms Tighe's photo and profile was added to the Portuguese police's missing persons website. As the Deputy has said, my predecessor raised the matter with the then Prime Minister of Portugal. I will now directly seek an update myself. I say to the Tighe family that I am very happy to raise the matter with my counterpart in Portugal and to come back to Deputy Smith directly.

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