Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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431. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on correspondence concerning a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5298/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have read and noted the contents of the correspondence referred to in the Deputy’s Question and I can assure the Deputy and the family of this Irish citizen that this case continues to be a top priority for the Government. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I have engaged extensively on this citizen’s case with my Egyptian counterpart, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, and with Egypt’s Ambassador to Ireland, Ms. Soha Gendi. The Taoiseach has raised this case at the highest-level with the Egyptian President, Mr. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Officials from my Department and our Embassy in Cairo are in regular and frequent contact with the relevant Egyptian authorities.

The Government has also raised the case at senior levels with the European Union and the European External Action Service (EEAS). I have raised the case directly on a number of occasions with High Representative and Commission Vice President Mogherini, and she in turn has discussed the case with senior Egyptian Government interlocutors.

The Egyptian Government is in no doubt as to our position on this consular case, our clear determination to see this citizen released at the earliest possible opportunity so that he can return to Ireland and resume his school studies, our concerns about the judicial process and our frustration at the length of time this young person has been detained without having been convicted of any crime.

The Egyptian authorities, for their part, see this individual as an Egyptian citizen according to their laws. They argue that he faces charges relating to serious offences and that the judicial process must be allowed to take its course.

Since this citizen’s arrest in 2013, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and our Embassy in Cairo, have provided extensive consular assistance to him and his family. My officials undertake regular consular visits to the citizen in prison, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade interacts frequently with his family and his Egyptian legal team to provide support and assistance. Such a high level of visitation means that Embassy officials are well-placed to intervene on his behalf when issues in relation to his well-being arise. A number of interventions related to this citizen’s treatment and welfare in detention have been made on his behalf with the Egyptian authorities, and we continue to pay close attention to all aspects of his welfare. We are satisfied that access to his legal representation is not being impeded, and the citizen receives regular visits from family members. The most recent consular visit took place on 11 February and was undertaken by the Dublin-based Director of the Consular Division in my Department, accompanied also by officials from our Embassy in Cairo. Embassy officials have attended all court hearings so far – another clear demonstration of the importance we attach to this case.

At the most recent hearing on 6 March, the case was adjourned until 29 June, but the court clerk, when announcing the adjournment, indicated that final decisions in the case will be made at the next hearing. While this is encouraging, I would caution against assumptions being made regarding the final time-scale or outcome of this case.

There have been assertions that this citizen could be liable to be given the death penalty if convicted. We raised this very serious point with the Egyptian authorities and we have been advised consistently that there is no possibility of the death penalty being applied in this case on account of the fact that he was a minor at the time of his arrest. Nonetheless, the charges he faces are serious, and potentially carry significant sentences in the event of his being found guilty. Against this background, we continue to make every effort on this citizen’s behalf.