Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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8. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to sign a statement of solidarity (details supplied) with the pro-democracy movement in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8115/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the situation in Egypt continues to be monitored by the EU and UN in the context of whatever intervention can be made to mitigate human rights violations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8587/14]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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As part of my question I referred the Tánaiste to a statement that has been put together by activists in Egypt and internationally calling for an end to the brutal repression that is now being undertaken by the Egyptian military regime against pro-democracy activists, students and journalists. Many of the people who led the democratic revolution in Egypt are now in prison, are being prosecuted or are being viciously repressed by the Egyptian military. Will the Tánaiste sign the statement and add the weight of the Government to the international solidarity movement's call for an end to the repression in Egypt?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 71 together.

I have made clear on a number of occasions my concerns about the current human rights situation in Egypt, particularly following the events of last July which resulted in the overthrow of the elected Morsi government. I have also addressed these concerns in private conversation with my Egyptian counterpart. Those concerns are widely shared by our EU partners, as should be clear from the firmly worded conclusions on Egypt adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 10 February. While welcoming the adoption of the new Egyptian constitution last month, the Council deplored the absence of a fully inclusive process leading up to the referendum and also the closing of political space for dissenting opinion before and during the referendum. The Council proceeded to express its concern over the deteriorating human rights situation and the use of selective justice against the political opposition as well as deploring the deteriorating climate for the press in Egypt.

The principles and demands made in the initiative referred to in the Deputy’s question are very much in line with Irish and EU views on the current human rights situation. However, what is now critical is that Egypt must move to implement in full all of the protections of fundamental rights enshrined in its new constitution; that all legislation should comply with the constitution and be in line with Egypt’s international obligations; and that the courts and government agencies, including the security services, should uphold the constitution and the law in a fair, transparent and accountable manner.

Reports from Egypt about abuses of human rights remain of concern. Egypt does face a real threat from extremist militants and we should not ignore such problems. However, political opposition and the promotion of an active civil society should not be conflated with the threat from real terrorist activity. The toleration of dissent and peaceful opposition is essential to the functioning of democracy in all countries.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Will the Tánaiste answer the question on whether he will sign the statement? We need action and not just words from the international community about what is going on. Democracy activists who were gathered in Tahrir Square to celebrate the third anniversary of the Egyptian revolution were targeted by snipers and 64 people were killed. That is what the el-Sisi military regime is doing to the very people who led the revolution against Mubarak. Many of them are now being imprisoned just for engaging in protest. An Irish citizen, Ibrahim Halawa, is still detained in Egypt. There is vicious repression. Whatever Egypt might say internationally about its commitment to democracy, in reality it is crushing the democratic revolution. The regime is hounding and persecuting journalists, students and human rights activists. Amnesty International and every human rights organisation say the situation is deteriorating to a terrible extent. Will the Tánaiste sign the statement and will Ireland and the international community add weight to the demands they put on the Egyptian regime to respect democracy and human rights?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am sure the Deputy is aware that the State does not sign petitions. We make our own statements and we join with other member states of the European Union in making a joint statement on behalf of the country, the European Union or the United Nations. I share the concerns outlined. We actively contributed to the negotiation of the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Egypt, which well articulate our position and that of our EU partners.

We have raised our human rights concerns on multiple occasions at ministerial level as well as at official level and we will continue to do that consistent with our assessment of any change in the situation over time. EU missions to the UN in Geneva are currently engaged in discussions for the forthcoming session of the Human Rights Council and are preparing the agreed joint position of the European Union.

The Deputy mentioned the members of the Halawa family. I discussed the case of the family on a number of occasions with the Egyptian foreign Minister. I am pleased that the three sisters have been released. The continuing detention of Ibrahim Halawa is something our embassy in Cairo continues to pursue with the Egyptian authorities.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I accept that the Government is making some efforts in this regard and is saying the right things, but the problem is that these regimes are not responding. The Tánaiste rightly said in response to Deputy Nulty about Saudi Arabia that there are many regimes in the Middle East that on paper appear to be democratic but in reality are brutally repressive. The Tánaiste even suggested that some of them are more oppressive than Saudi Arabia, which would be pretty difficult. There is a strong element of truth in the Tánaiste's view. Other regimes are certainly as repressive in many cases. Under Mubarak, Egypt was one of the most repressive regimes, and it is reverting to type now under el-Sisi and engaging in absolutely vicious crushing of pro-democracy groups. A counter-revolution is taking place. There is no other word for what the regime is doing. It is crushing the democratic revolution in Egypt with the most vile and vicious means. The petition states that no country in Europe or the Western world with any influence should trade any goods, including weapons, with Egypt that could be used against the democracy movement. One could ask what we are doing to make that happen in terms of trade sanctions or whether any threat hangs over the Egyptian regime to the effect that if it does not listen then action will be taken. Otherwise, our words mean little.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As recently as last week, this country worked very closely with the other European Union member states to reach a set of conclusions in Brussels at the Foreign Affairs Council which were very robust on the situation in Egypt. It is very clear that the situation in Egypt has been deteriorating. Very serious human rights issues are evident there and serious issues arise in terms of any prospect of a transition to democracy. The European Union is pursuing a very strong united position on Egypt. This is the time for Deputy Boyd Barrett and other Members of the House to get behind the process and show support for the position that is being expressed on a unified basis by Europe, to which Ireland contributed strongly. We were very much involved in the framing of the position, which has wide political support. That is an effective way to address the issue.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Could we have sanctions to back it up?