Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is very welcome that officials are in Egypt monitoring proceedings. As the Minister knows, Ibrahim Halawa was 17 when arrested and had just completed his leaving certificate. He has spent the final two years of his teens and the first two years of adulthood in dreadful conditions. He is now on hunger strike. Things have moved to a new level and the situation has become particularly acute.

In his reply to a previous question, the Minister mentioned that an Irish doctor has been sent in. The Minister might clarify the position in that regard. I did not catch whether the doctor had gone in already or if he is to go in. What was the result of the visit?

Is it correct that the Minister has clarified that the judge is considering whether Ibrahim Halawa will be released on health grounds? Has his case started? He is 21 years of age and his case has been adjourned 21 times. Great inconsistency has been shown by the Egyptian Government in the context of the release of 203 young people whose cases are also pending.

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