Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This time three years ago, a young man from Finglas had just done his leaving certificate and was thinking of going to Spain - Magaluf or wherever - with his friends. We all know this type of scenario. Instead, he accompanied his sisters to Egypt. They went there on a regular basis because they had cousins in Egypt. They got caught up in the protests of the time. My 17 year old son would probably have got involved. At that age, one stands up for democracy.

In the middle of the protests, the young man and his sisters sought refuge in a Mosque. People know what happened then - the mosque was surrounded, shots were exchanged and everyone inside, including Ibrahim Halawa and his three sisters, were arrested. Ibrahim has been imprisoned for three years. He has been brought to court on 13 occasions, but there has been no trial. No evidence has been presented and there have been no proper procedures. Amnesty International has decreed him a prisoner of conscience and is campaigning for his release.

On 16 August three years ago when his parents first realised that their son and daughters might be in difficulty in Cairo, they immediately rang the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In fairness, its officials stated that they would do everything that they could. However, it is now clear that whatever the Government has been doing is not working. Others have been pardoned and released, for example, Mr. Peter Greste. On Tuesday, the trial was yet again postponed until October by when, we are told, the judge will have had time to review video evidence. Two people were released, but Ibrahim Halawa was not.

What is the Government planning to do in addition? Many Deputies on this side of the House have an interest in the case and have followed it. We have held our counsel, as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has regularly stated that we should not say anything because it had the matter in hand, the case would be dealt with this week and it believed it could manage the situation. That has not worked.

It is important that we get this right. It is important that we send the message that every citizen of this country, no matter his or her creed, is treated in the same way and that we stand up for the rights of our people when they are caught in circumstances in which their rights are clearly being abused.

We must be brave and take radical, strong action internationally where needed. Standing up for that one young boy is standing up for every young boy in the country. It says something about ourselves and what we stand for.

Considering that the trial was postponed again until October and that the young man has for three years been in prison conditions that we increasingly hear are deeply worrying, given the concerns about torture and other forms of abuse, what does the Government intend to do?

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