Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the directions he or his Department have provided to State agencies or non-governmental organisations with regard to the continuous incarceration of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28337/15]
View answerThis case is being treated with the utmost priority by me and by officials in my Department, both in Dublin and Cairo.
My Department has a clear strategy in place, focussed on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible. It is based on two clear objectives: firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland as soon as possible and, secondly, to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention.
A number of NGOs and other parties who are interested in this case have made representations to, or are in ongoing contact with, my Department. At no time did my Department ever seek to direct or circumscribe any actions taken by any NGO or state agency.
In April the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission contacted my Department and sought its advice on whether making a public statement on this case would be helpful. This request was made a few days prior to the first hearing when a bail application, formally supported by the Irish Government, was due to be considered by the court.
The Department's advice to the Commission was that a statement issued at that precise time might not be in the citizen's best interests. This advice was entirely consistent with the ongoing approach of the Department in this difficult case which has been to avoid, where possible, any actions which might prejudice the citizen's case in the eyes of the Egyptian authorities. It also did not seek to foreclose on the option of the IHREC issuing a statement after 26 April, when the bail application was in the event refused by the Court.
NGOs and relevant state agencies are of course free to pursue such courses of action they feel appropriate and I fully respect their right to do so. The Deputy will appreciate that all actions and statements by my Department must be guided by the imperative of what we judge to be in the citizen's best interests and in furtherance of the two key objectives outlined above.
