Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I repeat to the House, as I have on a number of occasions over the past two years, that this consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and substantial resources and time are being devoted to it not only be me but by the Taoiseach, officials in my Department and the Taoiseach's Department, by our ambassador and his team in Cairo and by the entire diplomatic network. The Government is doing everything it possibly can to ensure the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and family at an early opportunity.

I acknowledge what the Deputy has said regarding the recent visit by Members of this House to Cairo. I express my appreciation to the Ceann Comhairle and all the members of the cross-party delegation who went to Cairo recently to meet this citizen to hear his story at first hand and press the case for his return to Ireland with the Egyptian authorities at the highest level. These messages have been clearly and repeatedly conveyed by the Government. It is very useful that the Egyptian authorities are clear on the fact that there is absolute unanimity across Dáil Éireann on this important issue.

The Taoiseach has spoken directly and personally with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions calling on him to exercise his powers under Egyptian law to resolve this case and return Ibrahim Halawa to Ireland. He has done so in face-to-face meetings on two occasions and also by telephone and letter. The Taoiseach most recently wrote to President el-Sisi about the case before Christmas. For my part, I have engaged continually on this case with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Shoukry, and I once again raised this case with him when I met him in Paris at the Middle East peace conference on Sunday, 15 January.

The trial, in which our citizen is a defendant along with more than 400 others. was back in court for a further hearing on 17 January. The hearing saw witnesses called and cross-examined for the first time since the trial began. This may be an indication that the trial has now at last moved into a substantive phase and that a conclusion may finally be in prospect. I assure the Deputy and the House of my continued engagement and I acknowledge the importance of the parliamentary delegation.

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