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

We have a history of hunger strikes in this country going back to the fight for independence. Nobody goes on hunger strike unless he or she is utterly driven to it by frustration and is left with no other choice. That is why this young man has gone on hunger strike. For almost four years, we have been polite and nice, praising the ambassador and President el-Sisi's Government and telling them how wonderful they are without any result. I have every right to raise the question of the influence of economics on political decisions. It is a political decision to be nice to the Egyptian Government instead of telling them like the Australian Government did, "You do not do this to our citizen; we will not tolerate it". That is the attitude the Government needs to take. Ibrahim also suffers from a dangerous illness called Leishmaniasis, which kills 2 million people a year globally. It is spread through overpopulation in places like prisons and places which are poorly sanitised. He needs to be released and, although the doctor sent by the Minister to examine him has made a recommendation that he be released on humanitarian grounds, we are told the judge is considering it. We need more than consideration; we need this young man released, looked after medically and returned home.

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