Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Deputy is aware that the State does not sign petitions. We make our own statements and we join with other member states of the European Union in making a joint statement on behalf of the country, the European Union or the United Nations. I share the concerns outlined. We actively contributed to the negotiation of the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Egypt, which well articulate our position and that of our EU partners.

We have raised our human rights concerns on multiple occasions at ministerial level as well as at official level and we will continue to do that consistent with our assessment of any change in the situation over time. EU missions to the UN in Geneva are currently engaged in discussions for the forthcoming session of the Human Rights Council and are preparing the agreed joint position of the European Union.

The Deputy mentioned the members of the Halawa family. I discussed the case of the family on a number of occasions with the Egyptian foreign Minister. I am pleased that the three sisters have been released. The continuing detention of Ibrahim Halawa is something our embassy in Cairo continues to pursue with the Egyptian authorities.

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