Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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328. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or the Taoiseach has spoken recently to the Prime Minister of Egypt about a person (details supplied). [23024/17]

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. In light of its exceptional circumstances, this case has seen an exceptional level 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 this citizen’s 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.

The Taoiseach has had a series of direct and personal contacts with President el-Sisi on this case. He has met him face-to-face on two separate occasions. He has spoken to him by phone numerous times. He has written to him several times.

In April, the Taoiseach once again made direct contact with President el-Sisi to renew the Government’s appeal to the Egyptian authorities to release this Irish citizen and return him to Ireland without delay.

In all of these contacts, the Taoiseach has underlined our concerns about the continuing detention of this young man, who has been in prison for three and a half years without having been convicted of any offence, and who is part of a group trial that has been adjourned on many occasions.

Regardless of our difficulties with the ongoing trial, the reality is the Irish government cannot directly interfere with a trial in another country. What we can do and what we are working very hard to do is to secure Ibrahim’s release by the Egyptian authorities at the earliest possible time so that he can return home to his family in Dublin, and to provide every possible consular support for Ibrahim’s welfare while he remains in detention. All of the sustained and focused actions that have been taken by the Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassy in Cairo throughout this case have been aimed at furthering these two objectives, and importantly, avoiding any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to this citizen’s best interests.

While there is precious little to be positive about in this long-running and difficult matter, I do note that the court case in which this man is accused is now, at last, underway in earnest and moving forward. I welcome the fact that the presiding judge has invoked new legal provisions to speed up the trial process. These are indications that an end to the trial may, finally, be in sight.

President el-Sisi has powers under the Egyptian constitution and laws which would allow him to order the deportation of our citizen to Ireland. However, he has repeatedly said that he cannot consider using these powers while the case remains before the courts. President el-Sisi has consistently made clear to the Government that he is anxious to resolve this issue as soon as he can, and that he will be able to intervene in the case once the trial has ended.

The Irish Government cannot intervene in a case that is before the courts in another jurisdiction. What we can do, and what we are doing, is working constantly to maintain maximum pressure on the Egyptian Government to ensure that they are in no doubt about our wish to see that this trial proceeds now to a conclusion and, once it is concluded, that our citizen is returned to Ireland without delay.