Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2015
345. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed the case of a person (details supplied) with other European Union Foreign Affairs Ministers in Luxembourg on 20 April 2015. [16225/15]
View answerThis issue was not on the agenda for the Foreign Affairs Council which focused largely on the crisis in Libya, Iran’s nuclear programme and the ongoing crisis in Yemen, amongst others.
The Foreign Affairs Council was chaired by HRVP Mogherini with whom I have discussed this case on a number of occasions, most recently on 14 April. HRVP Mogherini continues to assure me of the support of the EU for our position. The matter has also been raised with the Egyptian authorities by the EEAS delegation in Cairo.
I wish to assure you, as I have stated recently in the Dáil, that our objectives in this case are clear: firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention.
An official from our Embassy in Cairo attended the hearing on 26 April, and will attend again on 3 June. It was disappointing that the application for bail made by this individual’s lawyers, and supported by the Irish government, was rejected. We will continue to offer full consular support to this individual and his family.
