Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment proposed by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill. I seek to draw the attention of the House to a document circulated by Seamus Dooley, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, seeking urgent support for its campaign against the imprisonment of al-Jazeera journalists by an Egyptian court. Al-Jazeera journalists Peter Greste and Mohamed Fahmy have been sentenced to seven years in jail while Baher Mohamed was sentenced to an additional three years for possession of ammunition. Other al-Jazeera journalists have been sentenced to ten years in absentia. All of these journalists are what they say they are, that is, journalists. They are not terrorists or criminals but are journalists who have been jailed for doing their jobs. This is a violation of the right to freedom of expression which must be condemned by the international community.

The NUJ, in bringing this matter to the attention of both Houses, hopes that it will be raised in the Parliament and asks that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade condemn the abuse of human rights in Egypt and work with the governments of EU member states to oppose the criminalisation of journalists. I would ask the Leader to convey what I would believe to be the sentiments of the entirety of this House in regard to these unjust imprisonments and to also convey the urgency of making a public statement in this regard by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, that he communicate directly with the ambassador of Egypt on the matter and that these matters, which seem to be politically motivated and inspired rather than in any sense of seeking justice, should be overturned, that the Egyptian Government should intervene and that President Sisi should also intervene to ensure that these journalists are allowed to be released, go about their work and return to their families.