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

I am very frustrated about the case of Ibrahim Halawa. The Taoiseach, in reply to a question from Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett yesterday, indicated he had written to President el-Sisi of Egypt. President el-Sisi's statement that he cannot release people before their trial is a lie. Some 200 young students were released by the el-Sisi government shortly before Christmas. At that time, we pleaded with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to appeal for Ibrahim Halawi's release under the same programme. It is not true, therefore, that President el-Sisi cannot release Mr. Halawi.

I will focus on an entirely different aspect of the case. The European neighbourhood instrument is an EU programme under which Egypt has received €320 million to date from Europe. Ireland makes a financial contribution to this programme, the purpose of which is to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of association and assembly. What the hell are we giving money to Egypt under this programme for when the country has interned an extremely ill young Irishman without trial? Mr. Halawi's trial is due to start again for the 21st time today.

In addition to giving it money, we are promoting a beef trade with Egypt. Live cattle exports to the country resumed for the first time in 17 years after the Minister's visit to Egypt. The trade is worth approximately €40 million and is expected to rise in value to €200 million. Is the export of beef more important than this young man's life? Why are we using the European neighbourhood instrument, under which the EU provides money to Egypt for human rights, under false pretences? Why are we exporting beef to Egypt in the hope of making substantial profits for big ranchers and sacrificing Ibrahim Halawa on the altar of profit? I ask the Minister to address those questions.

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