Dáil debates

Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Other Questions

Syrian Conflict

5:50 pm

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I did not imply that. I am sorry. The Minister misunderstands me. I am saying there is no point in him repeating the same information because I heard it already.

When the House met on 7 July, we passed an all-party motion on the question of Ibrahim Halawa and what the House might be able to do. During the debate, the Minister said more or less the same, namely, that he and his Government proactively used all tools available to them to apply the maximum pressure on the Egyptian Government at the highest levels, along with a series of engagements by phone, letter, face-to-face meetings etc., over the past two years.

The Minister mentioned that the trial has been postponed again. This is the 15th time that has happened, not the second, third, fourth or fifth. This is a very serious situation. I would like the Minister to tell me the status of the joint party resolution that we passed on 7 July, which included a request for the Minister's committee to ask the ambassador of the Republic of Egypt, her excellency, to appear before the committee, address the repeated delays in Ibrahim's trial, request her to convey to the relevant Egyptian authorities this House's concern that he should be released and finally, and not unimportantly, a proposal that a parliamentary delegation be established to visit the Egyptian Parliament and seek to arrange a visit.

The Minister told Deputy Ryan that is a matter for the House. Could he explain to me who takes responsibility in the House for such a motion and its implementation if the House does not and if the Minister is not the person who takes that responsibility?

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