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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Robert Pether detention

Summary

Deputy Kerrane again raised the prolonged detention of Robert Pether in Iraq and stressed the impact on his Irish family. The Tánaiste said representations were continuing with the Australian-led efforts and acknowledged the case was sad and difficult.

The Tánaiste is aware of the case of Robert Pether, which I have raised in this Chamber many times. He has spent more than two years in a Baghdad prison cell following a dispute between his employer and the Iraqi Government. He has literally been collateral damage. He is an Australian citizen, which limits what the Government can do, and I understand that, but his wife and three children, who miss him dearly, live in my constituency and they are Irish citizens. We have had a report from the UN last March and it concluded that his detention is in breach of international law and arbitrary. It called for his immediate release. Time is moving on, his children are growing up without him and there are fears for his health. There are fears that his skin cancer may have returned and he is not getting the medical treatment he needs. This situation is becoming more grave every day. Will the Tánaiste meet his wife, Desree, to see what more the Irish Government can do to try to bring Robert home to County Roscommon?

Comment on this

Senator Eugene Murphy has consistently raised this me with me as well and has asked that I would meet the family. I made that commitment to Senator Murphy and to Deputy Kerrane as well. The issue, as the Deputy has outlined, is that the Australian Government has been leading in the discussions but we have also been making representations. It is a very difficult and sad situation for the family and the individual concerned, so we are continuing to work on it. Unfortunately, this is an increasing trend across the world with our citizens and dual citizens, so we will continue to work on this.

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That concludes Questions on Policy or Legislation, 30 minutes earlier than normal, so congratulations. We finished earlier than normal.

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