Dail Report: A senior official had been appointed to be with the Hassan family and act as a liaison support for them, the Minister for Foreign Affairs told the Dáil in his address on the abduction of Ms Margaret Hassan.
"All our actions will be guided by the experience and advice of those on the ground in Iraq, who are best placed to tell us how, and when, we can best be of further help," said Mr Dermot Ahern.
He added that he had spoken earlier with Ms Hassan's husband and family and with a close friend who had worked with her over many years.
His Department had been in direct contact with the chief executive of Care International, and had reviewed the situation fully with him.
The Dáil unanimously called for the release of Ms Hassan. This was suggested earlier by the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, at Leaders' Questions.
Mr Kenny said her kidnapping was "an appalling crime against a woman who has given years of service to her adopted country".
Agreeing, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said Ms Hassan's kidnapping was a terrible deed against her family, the Care International community and all of her friends, of which she had many in the Republic as well as her family in Kerry and London. "We have spoken directly to the family and our officials have spoken to her husband. All diplomatic channels are being used, particularly those in the British system as they have links to the authorities in Baghdad. However, we also have direct links to Margaret's husband and to her family here in Ireland."
During the statements on the motion, the Taoiseach said the Government had repeatedly called for an end to the practice of hostage-taking, not least because of the trauma and distress inflicted on hostages and their families.
"This was recently brought very close to home by the tragic case of Kenneth Bigley, an Irish citizen whose cruel murder shocked the world and the people of Ireland. In debating this resolution today, our thoughts and prayers are also with Kenneth's family.
"In the case of Margaret Hassan, a group has taken hostage a woman who has devoted the overwhelming part of her adult life to helping Iraq and its people, having herself also become a citizen of that country.
"They have taken a woman whose life's work is an inspiration to us all and who, like many other Irish people, has lived in varied and different places abroad during her life."
The Fine Gael spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Bernard Allen, said Ms Hassan had steadfastly worked with the poorest people in Iraq. "With Care International, she has assisted Iraqi men, women and children through the provision of healthcare programmes, the rebuilding of hospitals and the provision of water and sanitation services.
"It is a tragedy for the Iraqi people that Margaret's abduction now means that Care International must obviously suspend its programmes in Iraq. By their actions, her captors are hurting the ordinary people of Iraq who need international assistance now more than ever."
The Labour spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Michael D. Higgins, said: "My hope is that Margaret, who has spent decades in Iraq, is married to an Iraqi, and enjoys Iraqi citizenship among other citizenships, will be speedily released as a result of widespread Iraqi appreciation of her work to date and its importance into the future."
Other deputies also spoke in support of the unanimous call for Ms Hassan's release.
