Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 February 2014
46. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the contact he has had with the Egyptian authorities regarding the release of an Irish citizen (details supplied) as a matter of urgency. [10068/14]
View answer51. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the assistance his Department is providing to a person (details supplied) detained in Egypt; if his Department is working towards ensuring this person is released; and if he has personally raised the issue with the Egyptian authorities. [10198/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 51 together.
As the Deputy is aware this Irish citizen has been detained for over six months. I have raised my concerns at his continued detention without trial with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmy, on 11 November and 23 December 2013. The Embassy of Ireland in Cairo has been actively liaising with the Egyptian authorities in relation to the case and contacts have included numerous meetings. Our Ambassador and her colleagues in Egypt have met with senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Justice, and the office of the Prosecutor General.
Consular officials in Dublin met with family representatives on 17 August, 19 September, 24 October and 16 December 2013, and 16 January 2014. Consular visits were made to the individual named on 24 August, 8 September, 15 September, 10 October, 24 October, 30 October, 10 November, 21 November, 3 December and 18 December 2013 and 8 January, 26 January and 13 February 2014. The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis raised this individual’s case with both the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmy, and the Prosecutor General, Hisham Barakat, during his visit to Cairo this month. However, as the Deputy is aware, the individual named is still before the judicial system in Egypt and we are precluded from getting involved in the judicial process. On all recent visits this individual was found to be in good health and in reasonably good spirits despite the ordeal of being detained so long. He appears to be being well treated in the low-security prison in which he is being held. Regular family visits have also been permitted. The Embassy and the Consular Assistance Section will continue to give all appropriate consular assistance.
