Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 November 2009
87 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the recent release of a person (details supplied); if a ransom was paid for their release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41868/09]
View answerIt was with great delight and relief that I announced the release on Wednesday last of Fr. Michael Sinnott after 32 days in captivity. His release was the result of an intense diplomatic effort by the Irish and Philippine Governments. On hearing of the abduction on 11 October, I immediately asked our Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Richard O'Brien, who is based in Singapore, to travel to Manila to work with the Philippine authorities to help secure his early release. He was joined in Manila on 25 October by an official from Ireland's Mission in Timor-Leste.
Ambassador O'Brien engaged in talks with the Government of the Philippines, representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), local officials in Mindanao, members of the Columban Order in the Philippines and several international NGOs. We worked closely with our EU partners and the European Commission Delegation. The Ambassador also met with the Papal Nuncio and with Philippine Church leaders. I would like to underline our deep appreciation to the United States Government for their assistance, as well as the Malaysian authorities. On 21 October, Ambassador O'Brien travelled to Mindanao as part of a high-level delegation of EU ambassadors, and while there he made a strong plea for Fr. Sinnott's release. Our Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Noel Fahy, was also in contact with the Columban Order in Rome.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Philippine Government for the consistently excellent cooperation they extended to us in securing Fr. Sinnott's release. I myself was in direct contact with my Philippine counterpart, Foreign Secretary Romulo, on two occasions, to convey the great concerns held both by the Government and by the Irish public. To my knowledge, no ransom was paid to secure Fr. Sinnott's release. Neither was there any use of force. This was a victory for persuasion, perseverance, and patient diplomacy. The Sinnott family and the Columban Fathers demonstrated remarkable strength throughout Fr. Sinnott's captivity. I spoke to them on several occasions, and my officials were in daily contact withthem.
Fr. Sinnott displayed great forbearance in enduring more than a month in captivity, in spite of his age and difficult health. He has spent much his life working for the poorest of the poor in the Philippines, and I know that the ordinary people of the Philippines will be overjoyed to have him returned safe and well to his community. Working on this case has left me with an even deeper admiration for the work of our missionaries abroad. I assure you that we will be looking closely at how best to protect our aid workers and missionaries from such ordeals in the future.
