Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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629. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating health of a person (details supplied); the representations made by his Department to the Egyptian authorities in regard to this person's health and their need for medical care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19762/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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This consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and very substantial resources and time are being devoted to it. This case has had an extraordinary degree of high-level political engagement, investment in terms of person-hours, consultation with third parties worldwide, and consular visits and trial monitoring.

The Government has been doing everything possible to secure his release. We have supported petitions for him to be returned to Ireland under Egyptian Law 140; we have appealed for him to be released under the Egyptian President’s ‘Youth Amnesty’ Scheme, and we have stressed in all contacts the humanitarian dimensions of the case as grounds under which we believe he should be released.

As well as working to secure this man’s return to Ireland, our other principle objective is to focus on his welfare and wellbeing. In this context, reports that his health is deteriorating are a matter of the utmost concern to the Government. In light of these concerns I took the unprecedented step of making arrangements for an Irish medical doctor to visit this young man in prison in late March and to undertake an assessment of his health. My officials in Cairo have been maintaining ongoing contact with the Egyptian authorities following up on issues relating to his welfare and health.

Both the Taoiseach and I have consistently registered our concern at persistent reports that this man is pursuing a hunger strike. Irish Government representative have urged him in the strongest possible terms not to pursue such a course of action, and to protect his health in every possible way. The Government has also called on all parties who are in contact with him or who have influence with him to dissuade him from any actions that would be detrimental to his health.

Consular visits represent the principle means through which we can monitor this man’s welfare and developments in this area. The Embassy team visits our citizen very regularly. They also see him during court appearances and had an opportunity to see him during the most recent court appearance on April 26th. The most recent consular visit provided a further opportunity to underline in the strongest possible terms to the Egyptian authorities that the Irish Government holds them responsible for ensuring this young man’s health and wellbeing.

We maintain open lines of communication with this citizen’s family and have been keeping family members fully informed of all developments and updates received from the Egyptian authorities. There are regular meeting between the citizen’s family and senior officials from the Department.

I want to assure the House that we will continue to keep the pressure on Egypt until we get this young man home.