Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I urge the Minister and the Government to go with the option of the Taoiseach intervening. In five days time Ibrahim could be sentenced to death. Yesterday, 22 people were sentenced to death for participation in a protest. There is no chance of him receiving justice in what is a mass trial. The Minister recognised the reality that the Egyptian authorities will decide, but the nature of these authorities is that there is a counterrevolutionary dictatorship in Egypt which is drowning revolution in blood. This is what is happening through an act of mass trials and execution. An Irish citizen is caught up in this. None of the other peaceful protesters should be caught up in it either. The Government must do everything it can, and surely this includes the Taoiseach intervening. I do not see how the Taoiseach intervening could have a negative impact on Ibrahim's prospects.

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