Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and deeply respect the views he expressed. I appreciate and acknowledge the high priority the Minister and his staff have provided for Ibrahim and his family regarding his case. I acknowledge the objectives the Minister has identified and he has pursued those objectives.

In the Minister's response he outlined that he has pursued these various courses. I am not sure if he feels there is nothing more to do apart from continuing in the way he has identified. This case is so critical I felt it was important at this stage for me to raise publicly that, notwithstanding its status under Egyptian law, his continued detention without trial and his inability to meaningfully challenge that detention constitutes a serious violation of his rights under international law. He has been in detention for an unjustifiably long period of time. There must be other ways, whether a fresh application under decree 140 directly from our Government. The Minister and I are aware there is a debate regarding when is the appropriate time to do this when it has been done by other countries in terms of the release of prisoners. I also hope the Minister will support Ibrahim's legal team gaining access to him prior to his trial.

I appreciate the Minister's response but I hope that given the ongoing length of time and the arbitrariness of his detention, there must be other ways the Minister is exploring so that ultimately Ibrahim can be released and come home.