Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Most members have been presented with an update from the Department on the case of Ibrahim Halawa. The case was heard on Sunday, 26 April and bail was refused for all the applications. Part of the reason it was adjourned was that some of the lawyers for the defendants were looking for additional time to prepare more information on the cases. The good news we are hearing is that Ibrahim will probably be tried for the minor charges rather than some of the more serious charges proposed. We do not have concrete evidence of that but we believe he will be charged with minor charges relating to incidents in the mosque.

The next hearing will be on 3 June. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Charles Flanagan, met with Minister Shoukry in New York last Monday and raised the Government's concerns about Ibrahim Halawa's welfare. They have been taken on board by the Minister. The one thing we have to realise is that the case will probably go ahead. There has been a lot of misinformation about the case of Peter Greste. He was tried and got a presidential pardon afterwards. A presidential pardon can only happen before charges are brought against an individual or after a verdict has been reached. The Government and the embassy are keeping a very close eye on it. There have been 37 consular visits to Ibrahim Halawa and we will have to wait to see what happens on 3 June. Would members like to comment on that?