Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

52. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding a person (details supplied) currently detained in Egypt awaiting a trial. [25656/17]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

55. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the correspondence he has had with Greek and other European Governments in regard to EU monitoring of the case of a person (details supplied) within the Egyptian court system. [25609/17]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not believe we are doing enough to secure the release of Ibrahim Halawa, who has been in court on 24 occasions without his trial finishing. One of the key moves we could make is to get our European Union colleagues to start monitoring his case and show a real interest in it. We made that case to the European delegation when we were in Cairo. We were led to understand that one or two countries, in particular Greece, were against such a move. What has the Minister done to get our European colleagues to agree to monitor the case, which is one of the levers we have to try to change the situation which is intolerable?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This matter was raised on the Order of Business today. I wish to assure Deputy Ryan that this remains a priority consular case in my Department. We are now running at just under 3,000 consular cases per annum. I can say without a shadow of doubt or fear of contradiction that this is the case that is receiving the most priority in terms of resources and interest.

I am very concerned about the ongoing situation. Since the last adjournment of the case, I have had the opportunity to raise the issue directly with a number of my EU colleagues in Brussels, in particular the High Representative Foreign Affairs Council Chair, Frederica Mogherini. I have raised this issue consistently with her over the past number of years and I know she has raised the issue directly the Egyptian Government.

I also raised the issue as recently as last Monday week with a number of EU Foreign Ministers, in particular my colleague, Mr. Jean Asselborn, the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg and dean, or senior member, of the Foreign Affairs Council. I have also had the opportunity on a number of recent occasions to raise the issue with senior Members of the European Parliament which has adopted a resolution on this matter.

I am very concerned at the delay in bringing this trial to a conclusion. I acknowledge, however, that there was an element of progress at the last two hearings. Witnesses are being called, evidence is being heard and the case is proceeding. I regret that the next return date is not until July but I note that courts do not sit in Egypt during the Ramadan period. I look forward to an early conclusion of the case and assure the Deputy that I remain very active in relation to it.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am afraid the Minister's activity is not working. Something needs to change. While the Minister says there has at least been some progress, there is no sign of this court case coming to an end. It is a mass trial of 480 people, including one European citizen from this State. Why is the European Commission delegation in Cairo not monitoring the case given that this is a European citizen? What has the Minister done specifically to change that so European Union monitoring takes place and the Egyptian Government knows that it is not just the Irish Government but the whole European Union which finds this situation intolerable? What has the Minister done to get EU monitoring of the case and why has it not happened? Our parliamentary delegation to Cairo could not have made it more plain to the European Commission that we wanted that monitoring to happen. It was one of the most heightened exchanges of our visit but nothing has happened since. What is the Minister going to do to effect that one lever over which we at least have some control rather than to say there is some progress and that some witnesses have been heard? Why is the European Union not in that court to see what is going on and to represent the European and Irish citizen in the case?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is regrettable that Deputy Ryan does not acknowledge the fact that there has been an element of momentum in recent times in this case. The trial is proceeding. I regret, however, that it has not yet concluded. I assure the Deputy that the European Union has been a strong ally of Ireland on this matter. I refer to my representations to Federica Mogherini and her role, in particular, as well as that of her colleagues in the Commission who have advocated strongly and consistently on our behalf with the Egyptian Government.

We have been pursuing the question of EU trial monitoring at local level in Cairo. This requires consensus among all member states represented in Egypt. I admit that such consensus does not exist currently but we are continuing to follow up actively on the matter. We have made representations to a number of EU member state governments and continue to work to achieve a consensus on the issue. As the Deputy will be aware and as I assure him again, this is the No. 1 priority consular case in my Department. We will continue to actively engage on the issue until such time as our Irish citizen is released and home with his family to resume his studies here in the city of Dublin.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister believe he will have a European Commission delegate at the next hearing to monitor the case? He has not answered the question. I may be wrong and I do not want to defame any particular country, but I understand that one of the obstacles to consensus is opposition from the Greek Government to such monitoring. Whatever about the Minister's meetings with Madame Mogherini and the Luxembourg Foreign Minister, what specific communication has he had with the Greek Government to overcome that key blockage to get EU monitoring of the case and increase the pressure on the Egyptian judicial system? Surely, we have the right to do that at this stage because our European citizen is stuck for the 24th time going to court without any case being heard or concluded in a mass trial of 480 people. What specifically has the Minister done with the Greek Government to overcome that block and does he believe there will be European monitoring of the case when it returns in July?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is my hope that we will be in a position to have EU monitoring. I assure the Deputy in the meantime, however, the Irish Government and our representative in Cairo continue to be actively engaged and to attend at each and every one of the hearings to date. While we await the conclusion of the trial, I assure the House that every effort is being made to secure the health and welfare of our citizen while he remains on remand. The Government's strategy is under continuous review. We have engaged in continuous and constant consultation with the family of Ibrahim Halawa, the lawyers acting on his behalf here in Ireland and in Egypt, experts from civil society and NGOs which have shown an interest in the case. As I have said before, if any Member of the House believes he or she can be of any assistance, I am happy to speak to him or her. My officials have offered to brief any Member who wishes to discuss the case.

This is an extremely complex case as the Deputy will have seen on his visit to Cairo. This is not something which can be dealt with satisfactorily, positively or conclusively by, as has rather glibly been said, lifting the phone. This complex case is receiving very significant attention and resources in my Department. Resources have also been applied from the Department of the Taoiseach and members of the Government will continue to actively engage until the matter is finally dealt with.