Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to the case of six year old Faris Heeney, whose family is in the Visitors Gallery today. I salute their recent attempt to raise this matter. The Tánaiste will be well aware of the case. Faris was abducted and taken to Egypt four years ago, against his will. His uncle was subsequently jailed for his abduction. Over the past four years, the family have repeatedly sought assistance from various Ministers of this Government and the previous Government.

Most recently, the family had their first official meeting with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald. The Minister explained that the Minister for Justice and Equality had written to his counterpart in Egypt seeking a bilateral agreement, which the family has been calling for. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs said she would keep the family informed and would send them a letter from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to his Egyptian counterpart. However, the family has not received any information over the last two weeks.

Four years is a long time for this family to have to wait for the State, which is well aware that Egypt is not part of the Hague Convention, to take this action. They welcome it but are disappointed and frustrated. There has been a complete lack of urgency on the part of the State in dealing with this case. It is not good enough to discuss or raise the issue internationally. Can the Tánaiste guarantee that this issue will be pursued with urgency and that the necessary steps will be taken to bring Faris back to his family in Ireland?

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