Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has apologised to the mother of an Irish woman who was murdered in India, after his department was reluctant to assist because she had been travelling on a UK passport.
Andrea Brannigan and her daughter Jolene met Mr Varadkar at the Bishop's Gate Hotel in Derry this evening.
Mr Varadkar described the meeting as "constructive" and said the Department of Foreign Affairs is now assisting the family.
Danielle McLaughlin, 28, from Buncrana in Co Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March last year.
Her mother requested a meeting with Mr Varadkar to discuss how families could be better supported when a loved one dies abroad.
However, Ms Brannigan said she was told by Government officials that it was "probably not worthwhile" as her daughter was not an Irish citizen.
The distraught mother was advised to contact British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
In a statement, the Department of Taoiseach said officials "incorrectly concluded" Ms McLaughlin was a British citizen as Ms Brannigan said she was travelling on a UK passport.
They apologised to Ms McLaughlin's family over the matter.
This evening Ms Brannigan said she was happier after the meeting but hoped it would not be "another closed door".
She said Mr Varadkar stayed with them for more then the allotted time, adding that the meeting lasted almost two hours.
"The first thing he did was apologise for what happened (the error by his department)," she said.
"He shook my hand. He listened which was the main thing, and even stayed with us over the time. The meeting lasted nearly two hours."
A representative from the Irish Foreign Office was also present during the meeting.
"The Irish Foreign Office have an embassy in Delhi so they are going to send someone every few months to observe the trial," she said.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Varadkar said he had apologised to Ms Brannigan.
"I had a very helpful and constructive meeting with Ms Brannigan and her daughter Jolene," Mr Varadkar said.
"I offered my condolences to them on Danielle's tragic death. I also apologised for the error my department made with respect to her citizenship.
"Ms Brannigan gave me several examples of how the Government could better assist her and other families in similarly difficult circumstances, including the appointment of family liaison officers, an amendment to the Victims' Charter, more written information, counselling services and monitoring of overseas trials by our diplomatic staff.
"I agreed to follow up on these matters and a contact person has been assigned to her in the Department of Foreign Affairs."
The Taoiseach took part in a series of engagements in the northwest of Ireland earlier, including visiting +I Engineering Ltd in Burnfoot where he welcomed the creation of 90 new jobs.
