Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
256. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any engagement she has had with the American authorities in relation to the detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11874/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra257. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on her Department's work to ensure the fair treatment of an Irish citizen (details supplied) regarding their ongoing detention in the United States; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11875/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the diplomatic efforts that have been put in place regarding the detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in America; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11876/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts that have been made to date to secure the release of a person (details supplied); his plans going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12207/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra272. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has been made aware of the detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied); if consular assistance has been offered or is being provided; if she will intervene or engage with the relevant US authorities regarding the circumstances of their detention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12257/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra275. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12394/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 256, 257, 258, 269, 272 and 275 together.
I can confirm that officials in my Department, including in the Consulate General in Austin and Embassy in Washington D.C., are aware of this case and are providing ongoing consular assistance. The Embassy in Washington has engaged directly with the Department of Homeland Security at a high level in relation to this case.
Since October 2025, the Consulate General of Ireland in Austin has provided ongoing support and consular assistance to this citizen in accordance with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter. The Consulate General of Ireland in Austin, the Embassy in Washington D.C and Consular officials in Dublin remain in direct contact with the citizen, his lawyer and his family. I can further confirm that staff in the Consulate General in Austin have conducted a welfare visit to this individual. My officials will continue to monitor developments in this case and provide appropriate support.
Where a citizen does request consular assistance in the United States of America, my officials will provide all possible assistance in accordance with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter. As with all consular cases, where a citizen is facing deportation and requests consular assistance, my officials will review the facts of each case to determine the most appropriate advice and assistance that they can provide. Where a citizen does request consular assistance as a result of an impending deportation, my officials can assist with providing information on the deportation arrangements, contacting family/friends at the request of the citizen and providing a list of lawyers. The aforementioned is not an exhaustive list of the type of assistance my officials can provide. The Deputy can find further information on the type of assistance my Department can provide in deportation cases and other cases categories at this link: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/assistance-abroad/
I want to assure the Deputy that my officials stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad, including in cases such as this.
