A number of groups have called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, to make a statement demanding the release of an Irish protester detained in Genoa after the G8 summit.
Mr Joe Moffat (30), from Drimnagh, Dublin, was arrested on July 22nd in Genoa. He had in his possession a Swiss army knife. At a press conference yesterday, his girlfriend, Ms Renagh Nagle, asked Mr Cowen to intervene in Mr Moffat's case.
An open letter to media organisations called on Mr Cowen to make the statement and to assist Irish citizens who went to Genoa in preparing a file detailing their "horrific experiences".
The letter was signed by among others Labour's Mr Michael D Higgins TD; Ms Patricia McKenna, Green MEP; Mr Joe Higgins TD; the ATGWU; the Socialist Workers' Party; and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was taking an "active interest" in the case.
He said a representative from the Irish embassy in Rome had visited Mr Moffat in prison last Friday. The spokesman said Mr Moffat was reportedly in good health, receiving no ill-treatment and happy with his legal representation.
He said the Italian police were awaiting the results of forensic tests on the Swiss army knife. Until these tests came back, nothing could be done.