Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Ireland co-sponsored a cross-regional statement on the human rights situation in Egypt at the United Nations Human Rights Council in March this year. That was the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council. It concluded before any of the trials under discussion had taken place. We will have to examine carefully the situation in Egypt in the June session in terms of what has transpired since with the trials and the verdicts that have been imposed. We will bring the recent background into the equation as well.

Earlier today, our officials met with embassy officials from the Egyptian side and all of the points mentioned by Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan were raised and discussed. The situation from an Irish point of view was made very clear. Last month, the Tánaiste was on record in this House articulating the Irish position. The European Union has articulated its position through Baroness Catherine Ashton. I agree with Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan that there is a role for the European Union to play. Through the European Union we have strong human rights conditions incorporated into all our trade agreements and it is very important to ensure that those are meaningful and have teeth. The European Union and Ireland will keep a very close eye on the situation.

There is no doubt that what has happened is totally unacceptable. I accept the Deputy’s point that it raises the question of the separation of judicial powers from executive powers. We are appalled by the decisions that have been taken, the manner in which they have been taken and the short space of time in which the court sat. It is a case of the highest importance and one on which we will focus most closely in the future. I assure the Deputy that we will monitor the appeals very closely as they proceed, both in our embassy in Egypt and in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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