Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept the genuineness of the issue, and I understand that on a number of fronts, the family is well-integrated into Irish society and will be into the future. It is a complex area that we have to work on. Notwithstanding that the family is in Egypt, we will work with the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs and Trade, and if there is other information the Senator has and wishes to pass on to us, we will get it to the Department and try and issue a more detailed response. However, I accept the bona fides of the case. There is a complex web of bureaucracy we will have to try to get through. I am committed to taking the case back to the Minister and I will relay the seriousness of it. At 57 years old, Jehad is the same age as myself, so I understand. We have to think of the family in the long term as well.

We can only look on aghast at what is happening in the Middle East at the moment and the huge humanitarian crisis that has developed. Sometimes when we look at it, as the Senator said, we feel like throwing up our hands. However, we have been very vocal about it. It is hugely frustrating to see this happening in our world in what we believe are enlightened times.