Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues and, I am sure, the Ceann Comhairle in saying how pleased we all are that Ibrahim has been acquitted. Under the Ceann Comhairle's guidance, a number of us, including Deputy Paul Murphy, travelled to Cairo to meet with Ibrahim in January this year. That initiative was taken by the Ceann Comhairle and his regular contact with the Egyptian Embassy in Dublin kept up the pressure in the case.

I agree with Deputy Boyd Barrett that four years is a long time. There were always questions about what evidence was there. I am delighted that Ibrahim Halawa has been acquitted. The Taoiseach has said that every assistance will be given to return Ibrahim home as soon as possible. Has the Minister of State an update regarding when he might be released and returned home?

It is important at times like this to acknowledge how hard our diplomatic team in Cairo under our former ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Damien Cole, and our new ambassador, Mr. Seán O'Regan, and Shane Gleeson worked. They worked assiduously in the background, although there were points when many of us questioned how good the diplomatic effort was and what was going on there. I know they spent a considerable amount of time on this case which they were so committed to. They deserve all our credit. We must pay particular credit his sisters, Somia and Fatima, who are the two sisters I know, and his family. We need to get him home as quickly as possible.

To reinforce Deputy Boyd Barrett's remarks, there are still people out there, and I have received phone calls from some of them, who question what this case is about and ask if we are sure about this campaign. Ibrahim is an Irish citizen. His background should not matter. He has been acquitted. He is not a terrorist, and we always knew that. People who do not accept that should really ask questions of themselves.

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