Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedures which are applied, within his Department, when his Department undertakes to pay bail imposed by any court on an Irish citizen overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7084/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Consular assistance is provided by my Department in a wide variety of circumstances and cases. However, my Department does not pay bail imposed by a court on an Irish citizen overseas. In certain cases, the Department of Foreign Affairs is prepared to advance funds to assist Irish citizens where this is judged to be urgent and necessary to ensure their security and safety, and where individuals concerned cannot gain immediate access to such funds. Funds are advanced based on an assurance of prompt repayment. All consular cases are assessed on a case-by-case basis, having regard to all the factors involved in each individual case.

My Department will continue to offer appropriate and sympathetic consular assistance to all Irish citizens abroad.