Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ibrahim Halawa has been in jail for 1,013 days. He is living in appalling conditions, with inedible food and is sleeping on a mat. He has no chance of a fair trial and is facing the death penalty. After that length of time, people are asking what can be done differently. He went missing within the prison system in Egypt. Our embassy was misled about his whereabouts. Has a formal complaint been lodged in respect of that matter? Peter Greste, who was a cell mate of Ibrahim Halawa, said that if it was not for the pressure put on politicians and diplomats by his family in Australia, he would still be in prison. He was critical of the Irish Government and said its quiet diplomacy is doing nothing to bring about the release of Ibrahim. Given that 1,013 days have elapsed, is it now time to ratchet up the pressure on the Egyptian authorities? Is there a need for us to put our heads together and come up with a new plan to ensure the release of Ibrahim Halawa?

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