Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, for coming to the House to discuss this issue, which I also raised yesterday on the Order of Business, namely, the continued detention of Ibrahim Halawa in Egypt without any sign that his trial will be finalised. In early January, I joined a delegation led by the Ceann Comhairle which visited Ibrahim Halawa in prison in Egypt. At that time, Mr. Halawa had been going on and off hunger strike. All members of the delegation strongly advised him not to do so but his actions in this regard were born of despair.

I thank and commend our ambassador to Egypt, Damien Cole, and his team in Cairo on the work they are doing. I also commend the Minister and his staff on their efforts. This is a humanitarian rather than political issue on which all of us must work together to achieve a resolution.

I am concerned for Ibrahim Halawa, a young man who has spent more than three years in prison and whose trials has been delayed or adjourned 20 times. Mr. Halawa's trial is due to recommence on 6 April. I have learned from contact with his family that his physical and mental health are deteriorating. I hope the Minister is in a position to provide an update on his health without breaching confidence. I understand an independent medical assessment of his condition was carried out by an Irish doctor with the assistance of the Department. While we were in Cairo, a doctor visited Mr. Halawa and carried out some rudimentary tests and we requested that an electrocardiogram be performed. I ask the Minister to provide an update on what action is being taken in this case. I also urge the Government to insist to the Egyptian authorities that Mr. Halawa is released on humanitarian grounds without further delay.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am very frustrated about the case of Ibrahim Halawa. The Taoiseach, in reply to a question from Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett yesterday, indicated he had written to President el-Sisi of Egypt. President el-Sisi's statement that he cannot release people before their trial is a lie. Some 200 young students were released by the el-Sisi government shortly before Christmas. At that time, we pleaded with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to appeal for Ibrahim Halawi's release under the same programme. It is not true, therefore, that President el-Sisi cannot release Mr. Halawi.

I will focus on an entirely different aspect of the case. The European neighbourhood instrument is an EU programme under which Egypt has received €320 million to date from Europe. Ireland makes a financial contribution to this programme, the purpose of which is to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of association and assembly. What the hell are we giving money to Egypt under this programme for when the country has interned an extremely ill young Irishman without trial? Mr. Halawi's trial is due to start again for the 21st time today.

In addition to giving it money, we are promoting a beef trade with Egypt. Live cattle exports to the country resumed for the first time in 17 years after the Minister's visit to Egypt. The trade is worth approximately €40 million and is expected to rise in value to €200 million. Is the export of beef more important than this young man's life? Why are we using the European neighbourhood instrument, under which the EU provides money to Egypt for human rights, under false pretences? Why are we exporting beef to Egypt in the hope of making substantial profits for big ranchers and sacrificing Ibrahim Halawa on the altar of profit? I ask the Minister to address those questions.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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4 o’clock

This long-running and complex consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and substantial resources and time are being devoted to it not only by myself, but by the Taoiseach, Ministers, officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs, by our ambassador and his team in Cairo, and the entire Irish diplomatic network. Last Monday, the Taoiseach renewed his appeal to the Egyptian President to release its Irish citizen and return him to Ireland without delay. This is the Government’s objective, and we are working day in and day out to seek to secure that outcome.

lbrahim Halawa was back in court today for the latest hearing in the case in which he is a defendant along with more than 400 other accused persons. Our embassy officials were at the court to observe proceedings, as they have been at every hearing in the case to date and before coming to the Chamber, I received a report on the case. Some progress was made today as 11 more witnesses gave evidence. At the end of the hearing, Ibrahim's lawyers requested his release on medical grounds and the judge undertook to examine the matter. I very much welcome that development. The next hearing in the case will take place on 26 April.

My Government colleagues and I have been disappointed and frustrated by the slow progress in the court case. Recent hearings, however, have generally been more substantive, with witnesses called and cross-examined, giving rise to cautious optimism that the trial may now, at last, be moving towards a conclusion. This is crucially important because, as Deputies will be aware, particularly those who visited Cairo earlier in the year, the Egyptian authorities have consistently said that they cannot intervene in a matter that is before the courts, and that this issue can only be resolved after the trial concludes.

This complex and sensitive consular case has been a priority matter for me since my appointment as Minister. No stone has been left unturned by the Government and our diplomatic service in our efforts to secure Ibrahim's release and his return to Ireland to his family and, indeed, to resume his studies. Our embassy in Cairo has dedicated exceptional work to this case with an unprecedented number of prison visits to ensure his health and welfare is monitored and that any concerns are immediately followed up in an appropriate and proper manner. Reports about lbrahim Halawa's health are a matter of the utmost concern for me and my Government colleagues. In light of these concerns the Government took the unprecedented step last week of making arrangements for an Irish medical doctor, nominated by the Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, to visit Ibrahim in prison and to undertake an assessment of his health. The doctor also had an opportunity to speak with Ibrahim at length. The Egyptian authorities have a clear responsibility to ensure the health and welfare of Ibrahim Halawa. The Government and the Department have consistently underlined this in all contacts with Egyptian interlocutors. Ireland's embassy in Cairo is maintaining ongoing contact with the Egyptian authorities on issues relating to Ibrahim’s welfare and health.

I have raised these issues repeatedly with Egyptian counterparts, including in a further recent face-to-face meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry. I am concerned at persistent reports that lbrahim Halawa is on hunger strike. I urge him in the strongest terms not to pursue such a course of action, and to protect his health in every way. I also urge all parties who are in contact with him or who have influence with him to dissuade him from any actions that would be detrimental to his health. In this regard, I welcome Deputy O'Brien's comments. The Department maintains open lines of communication with the Halawa family and has been keeping family members fully informed of all developments and updates received from the Egyptian authorities. The most recent face-to-face meeting between family representatives and officers from the Department was on Monday, 3 April. I assure the House that we will continue to keep pressure on Egypt until we see the release and return home of Ibrahim Halawa.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response and update. When I met Ibrahim, and in correspondence since, I assured him, as others did, that we will not forget about him and we will not give up until we get him home. How we approach this is important. While I do not doubt anyone's bona fides and that everyone cares about his situation, some of the comments that have been made from time to time have done more damage than good to him. People should be aware of that and should temper their remarks in that regard. They are very aware in Egypt-----

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What did I say?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy knows what. I genuinely believe what she said is most unhelpful.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has only 20 seconds.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What comment did I make?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Smith will have a minute to contribute.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Deputy O'Brien has to answer my question.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have to answer the Deputy at all. My concern, and the concern of all us in the House, should be to get Ibrahim home. What is the next step? The Minister mentioned his recent meeting with Foreign Minister Shoukry and the Taoiseach has written directly to President el-Sisi. Is another call lined up? Will there be further visits? I am heartened to some degree that the length of the adjournment between trial sittings has shortened and more witnesses are being heard. All of us want him released and returned home today. Deputy Smith and others can take what they want from my comments.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Perhaps the Deputy would like to clarify personally to me by e-mail what comments I made that are damaging to Ibrahim Halawa and his family.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I will tell the Deputy outside.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Smith, without interruption.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We have a history of hunger strikes in this country going back to the fight for independence. Nobody goes on hunger strike unless he or she is utterly driven to it by frustration and is left with no other choice. That is why this young man has gone on hunger strike. For almost four years, we have been polite and nice, praising the ambassador and President el-Sisi's Government and telling them how wonderful they are without any result. I have every right to raise the question of the influence of economics on political decisions. It is a political decision to be nice to the Egyptian Government instead of telling them like the Australian Government did, "You do not do this to our citizen; we will not tolerate it". That is the attitude the Government needs to take. Ibrahim also suffers from a dangerous illness called Leishmaniasis, which kills 2 million people a year globally. It is spread through overpopulation in places like prisons and places which are poorly sanitised. He needs to be released and, although the doctor sent by the Minister to examine him has made a recommendation that he be released on humanitarian grounds, we are told the judge is considering it. We need more than consideration; we need this young man released, looked after medically and returned home.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputies for raising this issue and for providing me with an opportunity to update the House on what is a priority consular case in my Department. I assure Members that the Government continues to do everything it can to ensure the authorities in Egypt are in absolutely no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and family. There is no question of the Government or, indeed, this House forgetting about or neglecting the welfare and health of our citizen. It is my solemn duty as Minister to be responsible for the health and welfare of our citizens abroad. No consular case is receiving the type of engagement Ibrahim Halawa's case is.

However, the Egyptian authorities continue to detain our citizen, and only they can make a decision to facilitate his return home. I assure the Deputies that we will continue at every level to do everything possible and appropriate to apply pressure on Cairo on behalf of our citizen and also through our contacts with international colleagues and the EU. Only last Monday, I addressed this issue with EU High Representative Mogherini and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Aboul-Gheit. Our embassy will continue to follow up thoroughly on all the issues to ensure Ibrahim's health and welfare are looked after. I reiterate my appeal to him to take food and nourishment. I assure the House we are active on the matter of the independent medical report which was undertaken, received and is now being acted upon at the highest level.

In response to Deputy O'Brien, I expect over the next few days to have a further conversation with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Shoukry. In the meantime, the Government continues to provide extensive consular support in the case. I wish to again underline the fact that the Department remains in close contact with both the Halawa family and the citizen's legal representatives.