MINISTER ANDREWS COMMENTS ON DEPORTATION OF IRISH CITIZEN FROM NEW ZEALAND

In a statement today, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr David Andrews, T.D. said that he had been fully briefed about the case of Mr Danny Butler, an Irish citizen, who has been deported from New Zealand.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed that his Department had been in regular contact with the New Zealand authorities about Mr Butler's case. "Our primary concern throughout", said the Minister, "has been to ensure that the rights of Mr Butler and his family, as Irish citizens, were fully respected".

The Minister also confirmed that his Department had been in contact with a number of senior figures in Northern Ireland in relation to the case. These sources had expressed concern that Mr Butler could face a threat to his safety if returned to Northern Ireland.

Mr Andrews instructed the Irish Embassy to New Zealand to make clear the Government's concern about this case. In its contacts with the New Zealand authorities, the Embassy underlined the humanitarian aspects of the case, including the state of health of Mr Butler and his wife, Colette, the length of time they had spent in New Zealand and the fact that a daughter of Mr Butler's was born there.

Mr Andrews said that the Embassy had made it clear to the New Zealand authorities that, in view of Mr Butler's citizenship, he should be deported to Ireland in the event of a refusal to allow him to remain in New Zealand. Top