Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Egyptian authorities the very serious concerns of a family (details supplied) over the ongoing detention of a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13752/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I, and officials in my Department including our Embassy in Cairo, have raised this case with the Egyptian authorities on many occasions. Following the beginning of the trial on 29 March, a formal application for release on bail is now being considered by the Egyptian court. Embassy Officials were present in court on 29 March and will attend the next hearing on 26 April. I am aware of reports over the weekend that Ibrahim Halawa was being tortured. Ireland’s Ambassador to Egypt herself undertook a consular visit on 30 March during which this citizen was able to talk freely with her. Based on the facts established by the Ambassador through direct contact with this citizen himself, the reports of torture were unfounded.

I am also aware of the unfair and unfounded suggestions that the Department is failing to act or doing less because of this citizen’s name or because of his heritage. I would like to reassure the Deputy that any assertion that my Department is treating this citizen less favourably than how it might treat another Irish citizen is utterly untrue and completely contradicted by the record of the Department’s actions to date in this case.

I am also aware of various calls for additional action by the Government. We keep all aspects of this case, including the Department’s own approach under review. However, at all times, the key consideration for me and my Department has been, and will continue to be, to ensure that any action that is taken is in this citizen’s best interests.

Given that the trial has now commenced and a petition for Ibrahim’s release on bail is now currently being considered by the Egyptian courts we would not propose to be making further public comment on this case at this time. This is entirely consistent with our approach in other cases. As you know, where Irish citizens are charged with offences abroad, it is the foreign court which decides matters such as bail and release. Just as responsible public representatives here cannot interfere with legal cases ongoing before the Irish courts, Ireland cannot directly intervene in cases before foreign courts. However, I would like to assure the deputy that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in Cairo, remain in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to offer full consular support. We will continue to engage appropriately with the Egyptian authorities, will remain resolute in seeking to protect the interests of the citizen concerned and will do all possible to achieve a positive outcome.