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

I am aware of the hearing that took place in Egypt on 15 December concerning this citizen. Officials from our embassy in Cairo attended this hearing, as they have all previous ones, and met directly both with members of this citizen's family and with his Egyptian legal team who represent him in court. At this most recent hearing, the trial was adjourned for five days until Saturday, 19 December, due to the non-attendance of one defendant. This citizen and his family have been the recipients of comprehensive consular assistance from my Department and as well as attendance at his trial hearings, the individual in detention has been visited on numerous occasions by embassy officials, most recently on 23 November. Numerous interventions have been made with the Egyptian authorities on his behalf at the very highest levels. The Government has also formally supported applications that have been made by this citizen's legal team in Egypt for his release on bail and under the presidential decree, law 140. 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 possible opportunity, and providing consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention.

This exceptional level of action has been taken by the Government and by my Department because of the very particular 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. We will continue to take all appropriate action that we 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 Irish authorities.

Given that the trial is ongoing, the Government has to be extremely careful to ensure that its actions, both public and private, are well judged and do 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 who do not agree with the Government's approach but I would appeal to all those who also have this citizen's best interests in mind to ensure that their actions and public statements are not such that they could jeopardise our considered and concerted efforts to achieve positive progress for this citizen. The Government's considered view remains that the firm, measured and sustained diplomatic approach we are taking continues to be in his best interest and represents the best hope to achieve his return to Ireland at the earliest possible date.

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