John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

During pre-European Council statements, my colleague, an Teachta Adams, criticised the EU-Turkey deal relating to the plight of refugees and called on the Taoiseach to reconsider his support for it. He has clearly failed to do so and has failed to listen to the non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and aid workers on the front line of the refugee crisis who deal with the consequences of this terrible deal. It is a disgrace that the EU thinks Turkey is a so-called safe country of origin and is deporting asylum seekers back there. Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian government does not respect basic human rights, and refugees have been shot by the Turkish military on the Syrian border.

At the Council meeting, the Taoiseach discussed the European Commission’s communication on a new partnership framework with third countries. Is he aware that 104 European NGOs have signed a joint statement criticising this plan? They are rightly concerned about the direction the EU is taking by making deterrence and return the main objective of the EU's relationship with third countries.

They have stated this approach will not only fail to “break the business model” of smugglers, but will increase human suffering as people are forced into taking more dangerous routes. Moreover, despite the stated commitment to respect the principle of non-refoulement, there are no safeguards envisaged to ensure human rights, legal standards and protection mechanisms are in place. As a result, people risk being deported to countries where their rights are not safeguarded. Did the Taoiseach speak out against this plan? Instead of blindly supporting it, he should have been calling for clear commitments to open up safe and regular channels to Europe for those in need of international protection and for other migrants.

Before this meeting, Sinn Féin wrote to the Taoiseach and called on him to raise Ibrahim Halawa’s case with other European leaders. Did he raise Ibrahim's case with them? On 29 June, Ibrahim's trial was postponed for the 14th time, pushing it back until October at the earliest. It is a disgrace. The Government’s strategy is clearly failing. It is time the Taoiseach applied for a presidential decree on Ibrahim’s behalf. This decree would allow Ibrahim to return home before a final ruling has been made in his case, and is used in cases where a deportation or extradition would serve the so-called higher interest of the Egyptian state.

The presidential decree has always been available, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, has refused to apply for it until the trial has been completed. For the sake of Ibrahim’s mental and physical well-being, the Taoiseach must act now. News of such decisive action would give him some comfort while he lingers in an Egyptian prison cell. The Taoiseach should also be canvassing other European leaders and enlisting their support for Ibrahim’s release to ensure he is allowed return home to his family and his many loved ones.

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