Tá dhá cheist agam: ceann amháin faoi chlár an Rialtais agus an ceann eile faoi Ibrahim Halawa. I am advised that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade told the family of Ibrahim Halawa that he was to be sentenced today and that the Government was poised to submit an immediate request thereafter for a presidential decree to be issued to have him released and returned home. Today the trial was postponed again and this young citizen is still being held in horrendous conditions. Will the Government submit the request for a presidential decree to ensure this young man will be returned home?

Tá ceist eile agam on the commitment in the programme for Government to cancer care pathways. The programme commits the Government to ensuring "appropriate care pathways are in place to improve cancer services". I have been contacted, as, I am sure, other Teachta Dalaí have, by numerous citizens suffering from a form of cancer known as sarcoma.

They have informed me that the locum contract of the consultant medical oncologist at St. Vincent's University Hospital will expire at the end of the week. They are concerned that the necessary expertise will be lost. Can the Tánaiste assure them that the expertise in sarcoma care will be retained at St. Vincent's University Hospital?

I wish to express my deep disappointment and concern - the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has already done so - in respect of the further delay in the Ibrahim Halawa case. I wish to assure the House that our ambassador in Egypt was once again present in the court for the hearing and embassy officials have been present for all hearings in this case. Many members of Government including myself have spoken with the Egyptian Foreign Minister. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, and our officials are constantly in touch in advocating on Ibrahim's behalf with the Egyptian authorities. It is very disappointing. I was speaking to the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, yesterday and he had expected that the court case would finally take place today. I will convey the concerns of Deputy Adams to the Minister. He will be outlining further action when he speaks on this issue in the House in the coming days.

There is concern about the particular specialist who has indicated that the contract has ended. The HSE has said that a consultant medical oncologist will be assuming the responsibility for the sarcoma service in St. Vincent's University Hospital and that ongoing care for patients undergoing treatment for sarcoma cancer will not be compromised in any way.