Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2013
9. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the refusal of the Egyptian authorities to allow Irish officials from his Department to visit four Irish siblings detained in Cairo in advance of their appearance before a prosecutor in August; the number of visits that have subsequently been allowed to his officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41206/13]
View answer22. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if resolution is close for the four members of the Halawa family who are currently incarcerated in Cairo, Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41055/13]
View answer37. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide more details on the detention of members of the Halawa family in Egypt and details of official visits these Irish citizens received from the Irish Embassy in Cairo; and if he discussed their detention with the Egyptian ambassador to Ireland. [41163/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 22 and 37 together.
The siblings named in the questions were caught up in the demonstrations at al-Fath mosque in Cairo on Friday, 16 August. After being alerted to their presence in the mosque during the night of 16 August and early morning of 17 August, our ambassador in Cairo contacted the Egyptian authorities and after some considerable effort succeeded in obtaining agreement for safe passage for them to leave the mosque, although for various reasons the offer of safe passage was not taken up by the persons concerned. Since their detention, the embassy has been allowed consular access to the family on a number of occasions. The first consular visit took place on 20 August and the embassy official checked on their general welfare and arranged for medicine to be supplied. At that time all four were being held together at the security forces headquarters in Tora district. They were subsequently moved, three to El Kanater prison and one to al-Salam central security forces camp, where they are still being held. Further consular visits were made to one of the detainees on 24 August, 8 September and 15 September and to the three others on the 25 August, 5 September and 18 September. Officials from the embassy also travelled to al-Salam camp on 29 August with a view to attending the case hearing in the presence of the prosecutor. Despite receiving prior assurances from the prosecutor’s office that access would be granted, embassy officials were denied entry by security forces personnel. Officials from other embassies were similarly prevented from attending hearings for their citizens.
Officials from my Department in Dublin met with family representatives on 17 August and 19 September. My Department, through the embassy in Cairo, continues to liaise with the Egyptian authorities on this case. Most recently our ambassador met with an assistant Minister from the foreign ministry to relay our concerns with regard to their continued detention without charge. Officials from my Department in Dublin have also discussed this case with representatives from the Egyptian Embassy.
The Egyptian authorities are still reviewing their cases and at present it is still unclear whether formal charges will be brought against them. A decision to extend their period of detention for a further 15 days was taken initially on 1 September and again on 14 September to allow more time for investigations to be completed. Over the weekend, their detention was extended for a further 45 days, along with those of many others arrested that day.
My Department will continue to provide consular assistance to the four detainees and their family in Ireland. My Department continues to advise Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Egypt, with the exception of Sharm el-Sheikh, at this time. If, against our advice, Irish citizens decide to travel elsewhere in Egypt, they should exercise extreme caution and avoid all protests and demonstrations.
I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. This is clearly a very trying and difficult time for the Halawa family and all of us in the House would commiserate with them on the very difficult position of the four siblings. It is totally unacceptable that expected access during the time in which these people faced the prosecutor was denied to the Department's consular officials. Is it difficult for our officials and diplomats to gain access when they want to meet these people, who are currently experiencing trying and distressing circumstances? Are there any indications that charges will be pressed, or is the release of the Halawa family members imminent?
We are in regular contact with their embassies also in Cairo to co-ordinate contacts and access. We will continue to do that. This is a difficult situation and it is receiving the highest priority in the embassy in Cairo. I am being kept directly informed of developments and we are in regular contact with the family in Ireland.
Could the Tánaiste articulate the conditions in which the prisoners are being held? How often are visits allowed? He said the consul has been in touch. Is that on a weekly or monthly basis? Is he concerned by the extension of 15 days to another 15 days and now 45 days? Is there any sense of when this will come to a conclusion? The Tánaiste mentioned that they need medicine. Have they been interrogated? If so, is the interrogation ongoing? Will he give us a sense of the conditions these Irish citizens are having to endure and live in?
They have access to legal advice. I have been informed of the nature of some of the questioning they have undergone and the approaches being taken. I am not sure it would help to put that in the public domain at this stage because my primary concern is the welfare of four Irish citizens and I want their welfare looked after. A detention centre or prison is not a pleasant place for anybody to be. With regard to the conditions in which they are being held, at an initial stage, there were issues about access to medical treatment. My understanding is that has been resolved and that the conditions are as good as can be expected but it is not a pleasant place to be.
We are continuing to liaise with the Egyptian authorities and the family and consular officials are visiting the family members who have been detained as often as possible.
Everyone will agree this is an unbelievably sad story for the Halawa family. Given that the Tánaiste is in regular contact with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, would he consider challenging him on it and putting the question to him? Mr. Kerry seems to be happy with the way democracy has been restored in Egypt. Would the Tánaiste consider raising the issue the next time he meets him?
No, first, because they are not detained in the US and, second, because it would not be helpful to politicise the issue at this point. The way in which we are dealing with this is as a consular situation. These are Irish citizens who have been detained. They are getting the assistance of our consular services, as any Irish citizen would. We are concerned about this. The family has been in contact with us. I have communicated to our ambassador in Cairo that I want to be kept directly informed about this case on an ongoing basis and that is happening. Depending on how it develops, I may have to take it to a different level but, at the moment, our concern is for the welfare of the four young people concerned and we will continue to work with the Egyptian authorities to see to their safety and well-being.
