asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the situation of a young Irish girl in Germany (details supplied), whose passport is believed to be held by a third party, who wishes to return home but does not have the necessary finance; if he has received correspondence from her widowed mother to have the case investigated and if so, with what results; if he intends to intervene, and his proposals for aid, in this matter.

I am aware of the case mentioned by the Deputy. My Department through our local embassy have been in frequent touch with the girl in question. The mother's anxiety about her daughter's welfare and desire that she return home have been conveyed on a number of occasions. The girl has been informed that funds would be made available for her to travel home if it were her wish to come here and that she would be provided with a valid travel document for this purpose. The mother was made aware of our contacts with her daughter and I have already written to the Deputy conveying full details in the case.