Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. As I said earlier, I had the opportunity to engage with the Minister person to person, through correspondence and through parliamentary questions as well as at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. Other members of that committee have also expressed their worry for Ibrahim. I would obviously like to see Ibrahim come off the hunger strike right away. We understand the complete stress and trauma the young man has been through for almost two years, and the natural concern and worry of his family back here at home, and of his mother, who has travelled to Egypt.

I urge the Minister that there is further concern regarding the reports that the trial judge may be retiring, which could cause further delays. We want to see Ibrahim off hunger strike, released and back at home in the bosom of his family, where he should be at his age in life. None of us can imagine what he is going through in what are very poor conditions, from what we have learned, in a foreign country away from his family. It is understandably difficult for anybody to be in prison, but to be so far away at such a tender age and in difficult circumstances - we can only imagine the agony and hurt he is going through.

I am glad the Minister met with the family again over the past week to hear at first hand their obvious concerns. I appeal to him to continue to use every appropriate means to support the case of this young man for the earliest possible release. Whatever political and diplomatic interventions can help obviously need to be pursued.

At the foreign affairs committee yesterday, a suggestion was put forward that a delegation might go to Egypt to visit the man, if that was considered to be of some help. A small delegation would be glad to travel, if such a visit can be facilitated, to show the support of the Oireachtas for this family during these very trying times.

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