Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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438. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to secure the release of an Irish citizen (details supplied) detained in Egypt without trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4136/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Government is pursuing every avenue to secure the release of this Irish citizen and will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate channels. Significant resources continue to be deployed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Cairo and in Dublin, in the provision of comprehensive consular assistance to both this citizen and his family.

Ultimately, any decision regarding bail or release will be made solely by the relevant Egyptian authorities. In this case, the Irish Government has lent its formal support to requests for release on bail and release under the Presidential decree/Law 140, and will continue to work in support of these efforts.

All actions taken in this case are considered in light of the Government's clear objectives. First, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland and, second, to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by the Taoiseach, Ministers and by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to date in this case has been to further these objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.

In addition to engagement with the Egyptian authorities, the Government also frequently engages with other states who have had citizens in similar situations, with our European and international partners represented in Egypt, and with the European Union. I have engaged extensively with High Representative Ms. Federica Mogherini, who raised this citizen's case with Foreign Minister Shoukry on her most recent visit to Cairo. The Taoiseach has also discussed the case at the very highest level with President al-Sisi. The Egyptian Government is in no doubt about the Irish Government's position and our desire to see this citizen released as soon as possible.

The Government will remain resolute in pursuing its clear objectives in this case and what we firmly believe to be in this citizen’s best interests and to be most likely to contribute to a positive outcome for him.