I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 26 together.
I have made clear Ireland’s strong support for an urgent return to democracy and the constitutional order in Egypt and the lifting of all unwarranted restrictions on Egyptian civil society and Egyptian citizens.
I have also personally intervened in the case of our own citizens from the Halawa family, seeking to ensure that they receive fair and transparent justice from the Egyptian authorities.
Ireland stands firmly with the public statement made by the EU's High Representative, Cathy Ashton, who stated on behalf of the EU on 23 December that she was concerned about the guilty verdict, the prison sentences and the financial penalty handed down by a court in Egypt against political activists Ahmed Maher, a founder of the April 6 Movement, Ahmed Douma and Mohammed Adel and hoped that these sentences could be reviewed in an appeals process.
I strongly support her statement and the concerns expressed by both the EU and the UN Secretary General on recent legislative restrictions imposed on freedom of assembly and freedom of expression in Egypt. These are issues which will be pursued in further political dialogue, both at the bilateral and EU level, with Egypt.
The appeals process is currently underway with the recent appeal hearing on 9 January adjourned for a further two weeks. Our Embassy in Cairo has been monitoring these cases and reporting on developments.