Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department has a very clear strategy in place focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest opportunity. The strategy is based on two clear objectives, namely, to see the individual released by the Egyptian authorities so he can return to his family and his studies here in Dublin, and to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. Over the past year, I have engaged intensively with the Egyptian authorities, the EU and other international partners at a very high level on the case. I have spoken to my Egyptian counterpart directly on several occasions and raised concerns with him about the length of time our citizen has been in detention without trial or conviction. My officials are in ongoing contact with the Egyptian embassy in Dublin and the Egyptian authorities in Cairo. At the hearing on 3 June, which was attended by Irish officials, a number of defence lawyers requested that no further hearings would take place during the Ramadan period. The judge agreed to this and scheduled the next hearing for 2 August, at which embassy officials will also be present.

The Taoiseach and I last met the individual's family on 4 June in Dublin. At that meeting, we were informed that he had indicated he was considering embarking on a hunger strike. Noting that his welfare was of paramount concern we advised against this course of action, saying it was unlikely to serve any positive purpose in his trial and would be detrimental to his health. Embassy officials visited our citizen last week. During this visit, he informed the officials that he had relaxed his hunger strike somewhat, and it would appear that he is taking fluids and some food. This is a welcome development.

There is no doubt that prisons abroad can be places of fear and intimidation for Irish citizens, and this creates stress and anxiety for the citizens and their families. The welfare of any Irish citizen imprisoned abroad is a matter taken extremely seriously by the Government. Where allegations of mistreatment have been made, my Department has taken the appropriate action. While our citizen remains in detention, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is doing everything it can to protect his welfare, and to ensure prison conditions for him are as good as they can be. Since his arrest in August 2013, the citizen has been visited a total of 42 times by embassy officials. This unprecedented level of consular visitation indicates clearly the priority we continue to place on doing all we can to monitor carefully his welfare in detention, and to advocate strongly on his behalf to the Egyptian authorities.

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