Seanad debates

Thursday, 11 June 2015

10:30 am

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Daly also raised the case of Mr. Ibrahim Halawa. It was a case I would have raised had I not been acting as Leader today. It is a matter of grave concern. I am very happy to seek a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, in this House. I know others are also concerned about it. Like other Senators, I read the text of the hand-written letter, written by Mr. Ibrahim Halawa in prison. It is on the record that his family is very concerned about his state of mind as evidenced by the letter.I did ask for a briefing on the case. I understand Ibrahim's father and sisters met the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, last Thursday evening and that his mother is in Egypt. The two objectives of the Irish Government are to see this Irish citizen being released by the Egyptian authorities in order that he can return to his family and studies in Ireland and to provide consular support to ensure his welfare while he remains in detention. The matter of immediate concern is the further adjournment of his trial. As I understand there has been a request from defence lawyers that hearings not take place during Ramadan, the next hearing is scheduled for 2 August. Ibrahim has received over 40 consular visits since he was first detained, the most recent of which was on Monday, 8 June. Irish Embassy officials attended the most recent hearing on 3 June and will attend the next hearing on 2 August. Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin and Cairo continue to provide strong consular support for Ibrahim and his family. His bail application on 26 April was supported by the Irish Government but was refused, with all of the other bail applications in the case. The Minister met his Egyptian counterpart following the bail application refusal and discussed the case with him in some detail. There are ongoing contacts. However, I am happy to ask the Minister to come to the House to address us on the matter and discuss if there is anything further the Irish Government could be doing. That the matter is before an Egyptian judge and not directly in the purview of the Egyptian Government is a difficulty. There is immense concern about the conditions in which Ibrahim is being kept, the legality of his detention and the nature of his case. I take issue with Senator Mark Daly's outrageous statement that there might be a difference in treatment if this Irish citizen was of a different religion. I take exception to that statement, as addressed by Senator John Gilroy. We should request the Minister to come to the House for a debate on the matter and I will do so.

Senator Mark Daly also referred non-Government motion No. 16 on the Order Paper on the closure of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon. As it deals with a very specific matter, I suggest it would be more appropriate to raise it by way of a Commencement Matter.

Senator Paul Coghlan also referred to the case of Ibrahim Halawa and the grave humanitarian concerns raised. He also welcomed the establishment of the commission of investigation and the appointment of Judge Daniel O'Keeffe. I echo his views in that regard. He also spoke about the tremendous work being done by the Le Eithneand the Irish Naval Service in the Mediterranean. I understand that to date it has saved the lives of 1,153 migrants, which is an amazing achievement. I join the Senator in sending our commendations to the crew of the Le Eithne.

Senator David Norris called for a debate on the city of Dublin. I disagree with his remarks in that regard. It is important that we emphasise the need to facilitate cyclists and pedestrians in the inner city. For far too long, the car has been king in the inner city, but that is about to change. I speak as a resident who lives in an area between the canals, as does the Senator, and a regular cyclist. This is not about climate conditions, as those who are all-weather cyclists wear waterproof clothing. We need to do more for cyclists and pedestrians. I am very excited about Dublin City Council's plan under which it is not proposed to ban cars from the city centre but to make College Green, in particular, much more pedestrian and cyclist friendly. I do agree with the Senator, however, that the council must make provision for those who live in the city and support his proposal on the use of different coloured plates in that regard.

Senator John Gilroy spoke about the bandwagon effect. I agree with his remarks on the issue, on which I have commented. I also agree with his comment that the appropriate time to make points in that regard was during the debate last night on the motion on IBRC. The Senator also referred to the case of Ibrahim Halawa, an issue I have addressed. He also sought a debate with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, on public transport pricing policy. I am happy to ask the Minister to come to the House for a debate on that issue.

Senator Terry Leyden also raised the Roscommon issue. I have dealt with it.

Senator Catherine Noone supported Senator David Norris's call for a debate on the city of Dublin. As I said, I will undertake to arrange such a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Senator Catherine Noone also called for a debate with the Minister for Finance on inheritance tax. It might be better to have that debate prior to the budget. I will endeavour to arrange it.

Senator David Cullinane called for a debate on services for children with disabilities. I remind the Senator that two weeks ago, on 27 May, we had a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on health services for people with intellectual disabilities, during which a number of Senators raised the points raised today by him, including those about waiting lists and the delays encountered by children, in particular. I will, however, endeavour to arrange a further debate on disability services. As stated by the Senator, the Minister of State has been proactive in coming to the Seanad for debates. I am sure she will be happy to do so again. However, it may not be possible to arrange such a debate bearing in mind that we have a very heavy schedule and that the Minister of State was only recently in the House to discuss a related issue.

Senator Lorraine Higgins spoke about the need for an eating disorder specialist unit. I agree with her that there is a need to prioritise this issue. The House is scheduled to hear statements on tackling obesity on Wednesday next, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., in the presence of the Minister for Health. That would be an appropriate time for the Senator to express her concerns.

Senator Paul Bradford called for a debate on media guidelines, a debate I have previously sought to arrange. I will, however, endeavour to arrange it. I agree with the Senator's comments in that regard. The media merger guidelines published yesterday by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, set out the procedures to be followed when a media merger takes place or is proposed and give guidance on what the Minister will take into account when assessing whether a merger would or would not be in the public interest. Recent events have caused the issue to be of much greater political significance.

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