Written answers

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Diplomatic Representation

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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227. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on recent discussions and contact with the Egyptian authorities regarding the release of a person (details supplied), the unacceptable continuance of the person's detention and the urgent need for the person to be returned home. [10642/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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This long-running and complex consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and we are doing everything possible to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and his family at the earliest possible time.

The reality is that it is the Egyptian authorities that are detaining this citizen, and only the Egyptian authorities can make the decision to return him to Ireland.

The Taoiseach has been in contact directly and personally with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions about this case, and he has repeatedly called on him to exercise his powers under Egyptian law to resolve this case. For my own part, I have had a large number of contacts on this case with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, including face-to-face meetings, telephone calls and letters. I discussed the case most recently with Minister Shoukry when I met him in Paris in January, and I will continue to avail of every opportunity of contact with Minister Shoukry to underline our concerns for the rights and welfare of our citizen.

In recent days there have been further official-level contacts between my Department and the Egyptian authorities on this case and I had a further contact in this regard with Egypt’s Ambassador in Dublin, Soha Gendi, on Friday last, 24 February.

The consistent line from the Egyptian Government has been and remains that the separation of powers must be respected, that the Egyptian Government cannot interfere in the judicial process, and that the President can only use his discretionary powers to return this individual to Ireland after the trial process has concluded.

In parallel with our efforts to secure this citizen’s return to Ireland, my Department is continuing to dedicate substantial resources to the provision of consular assistance and support for this citizen and his family. Officials from our Embassy in Cairo are following up on issues relating to this citizen’s welfare and, in this context, intend to pay a further consular visit to this individual in the coming days.

I and my colleagues in Government and our officials at every level will continue to do everything possible and appropriate to apply pressure on Cairo on this young man’s behalf both directly and through and with EU and international partners.

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