Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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148. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the recent European Union Council meeting discussed the human rights situation in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37841/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The human right situation in Egypt was not discussed at the recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council or European Council.

The EU position was expressed at the last session of the UN Human Rights Council, when it was stated that “the EU remains seriously concerned about the growing number of death sentences and recent executions, over reports of enforced disappearances, the referral of civilians to military courts, the prolonged pre-trial detentions and the poor detention conditions. The EU is also seriously concerned about terrorist activities and conflict in Egypt and in the region and their severe consequences on lives of Egyptians. At the same time the EU calls on the authorities to tackle the threat of terrorism in full respect of the rule of law. The EU also calls on the Egyptian authorities to respect freedom of expression and of association and assembly, enshrined in the Egyptian constitution. Disproportionate sentences against demonstrators and prominent activists, restrictions on freedom of expression, sentencing of journalists and increased pressure on civil society continue to be reason of grave concern.”