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

I assure the Deputy that the Government has formally supported several applications that have been made by lawyers acting for and on behalf of this citizen for his release on bail and under a presidential decree. As an example of our ongoing interest in and commitment to this case, within the past hour I spoke at length to my colleague, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Sameh Shoukry. I spoke to him on a number of occasions during the summer. This afternoon my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Sean Sherlock, will meet the Egyptian ambassador in Dublin. We will continue at every level, including at the level of the Taoiseach, to raise this issue.

I assure the Deputy that the family of this citizen are being and will continue to be kept fully informed of all developments. We have made numerous visits to the citizen in prison, most recently by our newly appointed ambassador to Cairo earlier this week. Every opportunity will be taken, both legally and politically, to ensure an earlier return.

I have studied the case of the two journalists and assure the Deputy that we have addressed the issue on the international stage. I have discussed it with my ministerial colleagues from the country of origin of the two journalists to whom the Deputy refers.

See this speech in context