Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of his engagement with the American authorities on the continued imprisonment of the Cuban five, only one of whom has been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1435/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers of the Cuban citizens imprisoned in the US.

As this is a bilateral consular issue between the US and the Cuban authorities, the Government has no standing in the matter.

Ireland’s bilateral relations with Cuba continue to be positive and I look forward to the further development of relations in the period ahead.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will contact the Egyptian Government to protest against the imprisonment of a number of pro-democracy activists (details supplied) and others who were recently imprisoned for unauthorised protests to demand their immediate release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1475/14]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the intervention the Irish Government had made or is planning to make with the Egyptian Government to ensure pro-democracy activists are not penalised or imprisoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1476/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 26 together.

I have made clear Ireland’s strong support for an urgent return to democracy and the constitutional order in Egypt and the lifting of all unwarranted restrictions on Egyptian civil society and Egyptian citizens.

I have also personally intervened in the case of our own citizens from the Halawa family, seeking to ensure that they receive fair and transparent justice from the Egyptian authorities.

Ireland stands firmly with the public statement made by the EU's High Representative, Cathy Ashton, who stated on behalf of the EU on 23 December that she was concerned about the guilty verdict, the prison sentences and the financial penalty handed down by a court in Egypt against political activists Ahmed Maher, a founder of the April 6 Movement, Ahmed Douma and Mohammed Adel and hoped that these sentences could be reviewed in an appeals process.

I strongly support her statement and the concerns expressed by both the EU and the UN Secretary General on recent legislative restrictions imposed on freedom of assembly and freedom of expression in Egypt. These are issues which will be pursued in further political dialogue, both at the bilateral and EU level, with Egypt.

The appeals process is currently underway with the recent appeal hearing on 9 January adjourned for a further two weeks. Our Embassy in Cairo has been monitoring these cases and reporting on developments.