Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I can give the Deputy that assurance. I am taking a personal interest in this serious and sad case. That is why, last Monday, I telephoned the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss this case. I also discussed the continued detention of members of the Halawa family, which arose from the protests in Egypt in August. I spoke directly with the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Fahmi, about this sad case. I urged him and the Egyptian Government to look very seriously at this case and to see what could be done to facilitate the return of Faris to his mother. I explained to the Minister, Mr. Fahmi, that Ferris's mother and her family are distraught at how the child was taken out of this country and how difficult it has been for them since then. I told Mr. Fahmi that there was widespread public concern in this country that a child could be removed from this jurisdiction. The public find it difficult to understand why this child has not been returned to the care of his mother.

I advised Mr. Fahmi that the child's uncle, who had taken part in the abduction, had been convicted for his role in that abduction and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in Portlaoise prison. I advised the Egyptian Minister that I had previously raised this case on two other occasions with his predecessors, and that I am most anxious that a solution be found as a matter of urgency.

The Minister, Mr. Fahmi, undertook to have the case reviewed. I agreed that our embassy in Cairo will stay in touch with him and his department to provide him with whatever further details he may need concerning the case, as well as any information that might be of assistance.

Separately, as Deputy Joan Collins mentioned, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has written to the Egyptian Minister for Justice proposing that we should consider signing an agreement to facilitate the return of children who have been abducted. I strongly support that action and my Department will assist in every possible way in the negotiation of any such agreement.

The Garda is also continuing to pursue the case through Interpol. My own Department has been providing consular assistance to the family since August 2009, and will continue to do so.

We are taking this case very seriously. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, met with the Heeney family on 4 November and I understand that she has agreed to respond to them on some of the issues that were raised during that meeting. This is a serious and difficult case for the family concerned. I intend to continue to take a personal interest in pursuing it with the Egyptian authorities.

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