Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with others in recognising the role of the Ceann Comhairle and the all-party delegation to Egypt which, I agree, was helpful in demonstrating to the Egyptian authorities that this was an all-party and non-party campaign in support of him. He received strong support from different parties and also from across Irish society. Now that Ibrahim Halawa has been acquitted, the Government remains focused on ensuring he gets home as soon as possible. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our embassy in Cairo are liaising closely with the Halawa family, including on travel arrangements. A number of steps remain to be gone through before Ibrahim is able to depart Egypt. A new passport has been issued to him and Irish authorities and Ibrahim's legal representatives remain in ongoing contact with the Egyptian authorities about this process.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has been in direct contact with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, to request his help in expediting the process and I have written to President el-Sisi about the matter.

We have no confirmation at this stage on when Ibrahim will be returning home to Dublin but his family have indicated that they wish to keep the arrangements for his return private, and I think everyone will want to respect that.

In terms of relations with Egypt being normalised, the case has rightly been the most significant issue in our engagement with Egypt over the past four years. We have maintained diplomatic relations with Egypt, and cordial relations at Government-to-Government level, throughout. This has been important in enabling us to look after his welfare and ensure that our embassy has consular access to support him. It ensured that our diplomats were able to observe the trial proceedings and engage in the crucial contacts at political level which resulted in the assurances that were given by President el-Sisi to the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, that he would be returned home.

During our engagement with the Egyptian Government over the past four years, issues of human rights and the rule of law have been front and centre in our dialogue. I have no doubt that we will continue the conversation on those and other issues of mutual interest, and build on it as we move forward.

I should point out that Ireland looks forward to moving our bilateral relations with Egypt back into the space where we can engage on the full range of matters concerned, including further developing bilateral trade and tourism relations and progressing Irish-Egyptian political relations into the future.

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