Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As recently as last week, this country worked very closely with the other European Union member states to reach a set of conclusions in Brussels at the Foreign Affairs Council which were very robust on the situation in Egypt. It is very clear that the situation in Egypt has been deteriorating. Very serious human rights issues are evident there and serious issues arise in terms of any prospect of a transition to democracy. The European Union is pursuing a very strong united position on Egypt. This is the time for Deputy Boyd Barrett and other Members of the House to get behind the process and show support for the position that is being expressed on a unified basis by Europe, to which Ireland contributed strongly. We were very much involved in the framing of the position, which has wide political support. That is an effective way to address the issue.

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