Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

649. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will immediately and publicly call on the Egyptian Government to release a person (details supplied). [13979/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I, and officials in my Department including our Embassy in Cairo, have raised this case with the Egyptian authorities on many occasions.

The Irish Government has formally supported applications by this individual’s lawyers for his release. I have spoken personally to my Egyptian counterpart on a number of occasions, including as recently as 2 April, to underline our support for this citizen’s release and to highlight key humanitarian concerns.

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 the individual’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 involving Irish citizens. 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.