Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 31, 47 and 64 together.

I assure the House that the consular case of this citizen remains a top priority. The Government continues to apply maximum pressure to the Egyptian Government as a means of working to achieve this citizen's return home to Ireland at the earliest possible time and to provide all consular care possible to him while he remains in prison. Our immediate and ongoing efforts are focused on pressing the case with the Egyptian authorities for a positive response to the application made in August under presidential decree No. 140. In this regard, I acknowledge the position of the House, in particular the initiative of the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Eamon Ryan and others to ensure that this case continues to be pressed. I have been in regular contact with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Shoukry, on this case. On 24 September, I met with Minister Shoukry in New York where I again stressed my concerns at the repeated delays in court proceedings and reinforced the Government's support for the decree No. 140 application. This was the latest in a series of contacts which included also my visit to Cairo in June.

The Taoiseach has also been in direct contact with President el-Sisi to underline his personal support and that of the Government for the pending presidential decree No. 140 application. As has been previously reported to the Oireachtas, the Taoiseach has met face to face, spoken by phone and exchanged written correspondence on this case with President el-Sisi on a number of occasions. In all our respective contacts, the Taoiseach and I have consistently underlined the Government’s concerns about the continuing detention of this young man who has been in prison for over three years now without having been convicted of any crime and who is part of a group trial that has been adjourned on a number of occasions. The Taoiseach and I will remain engaged with the Egyptian Government. We will sustain our determined efforts to see him released by the Egyptian authorities at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, of course, my Department will continue to provide consular support for his health and welfare while he remains in detention.

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