Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to bring home a person (details supplied) from his detention in Egypt. [19410/16]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the comments of a person (details supplied) that torture and abuse takes place in the prison and that a person not receiving the same level of support that they did; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19352/16]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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59. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he is making to return a person (details supplied) back here, given the trial of the person has been suspended until October 2016. [19456/16]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I know the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, has been asked this many times, but I ask him again to lay out in detail what his plans are to bring Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen, home from his detention. This young man has been detained now for well over 1,000 days. Many people, including former prisoners from other countries, are openly asking whether the Irish Government is doing enough to get Ibrahim, who is an Irish citizen, home. It looks to us it is not nearly enough, compared with what is possible.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 36 and 59 together.

I and my Government colleagues are extremely disappointed at the recent news of a further delay in the trial of this citizen. This latest delay is a particular source of concern and frustration for the citizen and his family and we fully share their sense of frustration. It is our understanding that at the latest hearing in this case on 29 June, the court ordered a review of video evidence by a technical committee, with the court due to reconvene in early October.

My own concerns and that of the Government about this delay have been conveyed directly to the Egyptian Government. I met with the ambassador of Egypt last Thursday and asked that she convey to her authorities in Cairo my disappointment and frustration at this further postponement of the trial. My officials are seeking more detail about these latest developments and their potential impact on this trial.

I met with this citizen’s father and sister last week, in advance of the hearing, to reaffirm our continued commitment to securing his release. A further meeting between the family and my officials took place on Friday where the latest developments were reviewed and options for future action, including a new application under Presidential Decree 140, were considered. The Government will continue to bring all of its influence to bear on this citizen’s behalf through all appropriate channels. The Taoiseach and I stand ready to have further contacts with our Egyptian counterparts.

Regardless of our difficulties with the trial now under way, the reality is the Irish government cannot interfere with a trial in a foreign country. What we can do, and what we are working very hard to do, is to provide all consular care possible to this citizen while he is in prison and to work towards his release at the earliest possible time.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

All actions taken in this case are considered in the context of the Government’s clear strategy, which is focused on two core objectives, first, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland as soon as possible, and, second, to provide every possible consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention.

Our ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Damien Cole, was once again present in the court for the latest hearing. This citizen’s welfare is an important priority for our embassy in Cairo, as it is at home in Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is continuing to provide consular assistance to this citizen through regular visits to him in the prison where he is being held. The ambassador visited him again on Sunday last, 3 July.

I am aware of media references to a letter concerning allegations about the Egyptian prison system. On my instruction, the contents of this letter were discussed with the family and legal representative of this citizen as soon as the matter became known to me. I also instructed that the matter be brought to the attention of our ambassador in Cairo as he is best placed to assess the level of concern to attach to its contents. The ambassador visits this citizen regularly, and did so on 29 May and again on 3 July. As would be the case for any Irish citizen imprisoned abroad, any concern related to ill-treatment is treated with the utmost seriousness and would be raised urgently with the appropriate authorities. This point has been consistently reconfirmed to this citizen and his family.

In the coming days, I expect the Government will have further high level contacts with the Egyptian Government aimed at achieving a resolution of this case.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It really is just not good enough. I quote to the Minister Peter Greste, who spent 400 days in prison and was at one stage Ibrahim's cell mate, who told Australian Al-Jazeera said that Ibrahim is simply not getting the same level of support as he did. He said he wondered whether it was because his name was Peter, not Ibrahim, in other words, that he was considered white, normal and English-speaking, as opposed to Muslim with a different name. Internationally and globally, he received more respect and had more people batting for him.

Ibrahim has been detained for far longer than is absolutely necessary and was denied any opportunity to defend himself in court. I also mention that the Minister tweeted and welcomed the release of Joshua Molloy, a constituent of his, after he was captured and put in jail in Iraq for a very short period of time. The Minister welcomed Joshua Molloy's release. Certainly it was welcome that that young man got out, despite the fact that he had fought and was in combat, rather than somebody as innocent as Ibrahim, who is now 1,000 days in and there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by him.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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In relation to Peter Greste, as named by the Deputy, of course I welcome his release. I would welcome any advice or guidance he or Deputy Smith might proffer in my direction as to how best this case might be advanced.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Absolutely I would.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy that my door is open, as it is to any Member who may have observations, advice or guidance. It is important to note that each and every case is different. We have considered the cases, as mentioned, in some detail. We have consulted extensively on them, but my focus remains on the citizen, and his case, which is before the courts. We have consulted extensively, including with states and governments that have had citizens in similar circumstances, but any decision as to the release of this citizen will ultimately be taken by the Egyptian authorities. I travelled to Cairo within the past few weeks. I met face-to-face with my colleague, Foreign Minister Shoukry. This was the fourth occasion on which I had a face-to-face meeting with him. I assure the House that I and the Taoiseach are doing everything possible to ensure a satisfactory outcome. If Deputy Smith or any other Deputy has advice or guidance, I would be very happy to hear from them.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I do have some advice and guidance. It is just not good enough. There needs to be a statement and a call from the Taoiseach directly to the Egyptian authorities. There needs to be a presidential decree that there should be a demand for his release. I also think we should recall the Egyptian ambassador, just as the Italian authorities have done after a young student disappeared and was later found murdered on the streets of Cairo. It was an immediate recall. They are now looking at banning some importations and trade dealings with Cairo. Our representatives in the European Union should object strongly when arms deals, such as were recently concluded between France and Egypt, go ahead without any objection. This is an appallingly brutal regime with a significant record of breaching human rights, where prisoners have no rights. Should anything happen to Ibrahim, should he not be released, should he be tortured or found damaged in prison, be it on the Minister's head and that of the Government because not enough is being done to secure his release.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I assure the House that the Government formally supported an application made by the legal team on behalf of Ibrahim Halawa in 2015 for his return to Ireland under Presidential Decree 140, as referred to by the Deputy. This was done by way of formal diplomatic notes and by our embassy in Cairo at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 February 2015, in consultation with the family and its legal representatives. The Government intends to lend its full support to a further request for release under Presidential Decree 140. We will continue to work in support of these efforts.