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

I thank the Deputy for asking this question. It is one in which I have taken a very active role since becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade last year. Significant resources in Cairo and in Dublin continue to be deployed in the provision of comprehensive consular assistance to this citizen. The key focus of our extensive engagement on this complex and sensitive case remains securing this citizen’s best interests in so far as we can, working to see him released by the Egyptian authorities at the earliest opportunity and providing consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. I have had numerous discussions with my Egyptian counterpart about this case. I and my officials have extensive contact with the Egyptian ambassador in Dublin, and there has been ongoing contact between our ambassador and embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian authorities. The Taoiseach has also raised this case with President el-Sisi, in September, in New York. We continue to be in extensive contact with other international partners who have had citizens in similar situations.

This exceptional level of action has been taken by the Government and by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade because of the exceptional nature of this case: he was a minor at the time of his arrest and the group nature of his trial gives rise to particular concerns.

I will continue to take all appropriate action that I believe to be in the best interests of this citizen. However, the reality is that any decision to release this citizen will ultimately be taken by the Egyptian authorities, not by the authorities in Dublin. Given that the trial is ongoing, the Government exercises care and caution to ensure its actions, bothin public and private, will be well judged and not detract from our key goal of securing positive progress for this citizen at the earliest possible time. I am aware that there are those, including some in this House, who do not agree with the Government's approach, but I appeal to allthose who have this citizen's best interests in mind to ensure their actions and public statements are not such that they could jeopardise our considered and concerted efforts to achieve positive progress for this citizen and his release at the earliest opportunity.

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