Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am doing this because of the serious criticism of the Irish Government in the document before us in terms of what it is and is not doing. The fact that there appears to be no problem about meeting informally with the legal team but there is a problem with meeting with them formally indicates to me that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade might be upset with what the legal team would have to say about its performance. Why is it that it is okay to meet the legal team informally but not formally? Is it because, as I have outlined to colleagues, the motion calls for the Irish Government to take the same approach as the Australians in seeking the release of Mr. Halawa?

The strategy the Australians employed was to use Law 140 to secure their citizen's release while he was awaiting trial.