Written Answers Nos. 133-139
133. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if the details requested in correspondence (details supplied) will be provided for each of the years 2013 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45601/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
134. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as all relevant information has been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45620/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the plans and pilot projects for outsourcing care for the intellectually disabled which was previously delivered in-house by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45625/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services.
As the specific matters raised in the Deputy's question relate to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
136. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will recommend to the Government to invite the European External Action Service to oversee the detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied) and any Egyptian trial that may happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45541/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra137. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will request the Egyptian authorities to allow Irish family members of a person (details supplied) to accompany Irish Embassy officials on their visits to the Egyptian prison where this Irish citizen is detained as a similar arrangement was facilitated for the family members of an Australian journalist detained under similar long-term circumstances and subsequently returned to Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45542/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that no trial process for an Irish citizen (details supplied) has actually commenced in Egypt and, in that respect, any action taken by the Irish Government now may not be viewed as an interference in a foreign judicial process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45543/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra139. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has examined all options for seeking the extradition of a person (details supplied) to stand trial here, given the extraordinary long period of pre-trial detention already sanctioned by the Egyptian authorities; if he has already formally made a request under rule 140 of the Egyptian presidential code for the deportation of this Irish citizen to stand trial here; if he has issued frequent reminders to the Egyptian Government regarding the urgent need for a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45544/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 to 139, inclusive, together.
My Department is exploring every avenue to try and secure the release of this citizen and will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through the appropriate channels. Ultimately, the decision to release him will be made solely by the Egyptian authorities. Irrespective of any views regarding the fairness or appropriateness of any arrest abroad, the reality is that where an Irish citizen is charged with an offence under the law of a foreign country, it is the foreign law that applies and it is the relevant foreign court which decides matters such as bail and release.
All actions taken in this case are considered in light of the Government’s clear objectives. First, to see our citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and second to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by my Department to date in this case has been to further these objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.
I have engaged closely with the European Union’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Ms. Federica Mogherini, in regard to this citizen’s detention and our actions are both carefully considered and closely coordinated. The Government’s Embassy in Cairo is also in frequent contact with the European External Action Service and other European delegations in Egypt.
My Department retains the flexibility to adapt its approach as and when that may be required, and I will continue to cooperate closely with the relevant stakeholders.
The matter raised in regard to visits was dealt with privately between my Department and this citizen’s family at a meeting last week. It would not be appropriate to publicly address matters relating to the consular assistance provided to a citizen in public.
I can confirm that the citizen’s trial has indeed begun, with ten adjournments so far. While the stage of substantive hearings has not yet commenced, the case is considered to be in process, as would also be the case in the Irish judicial system. I have expressed my deep dissatisfaction at the lengthy adjournments to both Foreign Minister Shoukry and Ambassador Gendi, and will continue to intervene on this citizen’s behalf at the appropriate times and in the appropriate ways.
As both I and the Taoiseach have reported previously to the House, an application for this citizen’s release under the Presidential Decree/Law 140 was made in February of this year by the citizen’s Egyptian lawyer. That application was formally supported by the Irish Government by way of diplomatic note and has been followed up on in subsequent meetings with Egyptian officials. The Egyptian authorities are in no doubt as to the Government’s desire to see this citizen released at the earliest possible opportunity.
