Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Anybody who has read or heard about this issue through the media, or who has had an opportunity to meet people with a deep interest in this case, as I have, including members of his immediate family, whom I met briefly, would want to see Ibrahim Halawa at home in the bosom of his family in Ireland. We know that he went to Egypt to see his extended family when he was 17 and was there at the time of the Arab Spring, when there was a great deal of demonstration and unrest and associated events.

It is regrettable that the Egyptian authorities have not been in a position to process the various legal issues. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, with whom I have discussed the issue, other Ministers, and in particular, our ambassador and consular staff in Egypt, have maintained constant contact with Ibrahim and the Egyptian authorities to ensure that, notwithstanding the difficult circumstances he is in, the Egyptian authorities are aware of the deep level of concern about this case in Ireland, which remains a priority for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Officials at the embassy in Cairo are monitoring and closely following the case. Mr. Halawa has received more than 40 consular visits since he was first detained, the most recent of which took place earlier this week. As with all of hearings in his case, officials from the embassy were in attendance. I understand the case may come up again on 2 August. In the meantime, officials in the Department will remain in constant contact.

One of the approaches that may help to resolve this case would be if Mr. Halawa's bail application were accepted. The Government has been happy to support the bail application. I use the forum of the Dáil to urge the Egyptian authorities to consider the case of a teenager visiting Egypt with his extended family who became caught up in some of the events occurring in that country at the time and has since been languishing in prison under varying conditions that are of deep concern to everybody.

I commend Amnesty International on taking such a close interest in this case. It is a matter of concern to all of us that an Irish citizen should be in this position. I have spoken about the case with other members of the Government and I hope all of the work that is being done, particularly by our diplomatic officials and through a series of diplomatic channels, will result in Mr. Halawa being returned home safely to his family in Dublin.

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