The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, has directed his officials to ask the Pakistani authorities to step up their search for two Irish climbers who have been missing in the Himalayas for two weeks.
Mr Andrews has told the Irish embassy in Iran, which has responsibility for Pakistan, to ask that a military helicopter be deployed in the search for Mr Ian Rendle and Mr Gordon Campbell.
Friends and families of the two climbers say a helicopter search represents the last remaining hope of finding the pair alive.
"Our hopes are fading by the day," Mr Rendle's wife, Lisette, admitted yesterday. "The only way we can be sure is by getting a helicopter in to search the mountainous terrain."
The DUP MP, the Rev Ian Paisley, has offered his help on behalf of the two climbers, who are both from Belfast. Mr Paisley met their families on Wednesday and afterwards rang the British High Commissioner in Pakistan.
However, because of the British government's support for the US air strikes on Afghanistan, relations between the UK and Pakistan are at a low ebb. The climbers' families believe Irish diplomatic links represent the best chance of securing the vital Pakistani army help.
Mr Campbell (38) was travelling on an Irish passport, while Mr Rendle (41) carried a UK passport.
