We use Google Analytics to see which pages are read and how the site is used, so we know what to improve. This only runs if you accept. See our privacy notice for details.

Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Ibrahim Halawa detention

Summary

Senator Daly seeks Government time for a debate on Ibrahim Halawa’s prolonged detention in Egypt and the repeated postponement of his trial.

We now we have an inquiry thanks to the fact that the Government would not accept the transparency Bill we proposed. We lost that vote 17 to 24. Now the Government is acting, but it is after the horse has bolted.

I ask for a debate on an Irish citizen, Ibrahim Halawa who is in prison in Egypt. Amnesty International has stated he is entirely innocent of all the charges he is facing. He has been in prison for 666 days - one year, nine months, 28 days. No trial has been held to date. A new trial date, the sixth, has been set for August but that could also be postponed. In a note he smuggled out from prison, he said he wakes up to the screams of people being tortured and wonders whether he will be next. The Government needs to act. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has asked that these Houses send out a delegation. If Members opposite would like to visit this Irish citizen in prison in Egypt, they should join that committee delegation if it receives permission from the Government to go. The Government needs to act as well and the Taoiseach needs to get involved in the same way the Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia got involved in similar situations where their citizens were being held in prison in Egypt under President Sisi. The Government has not acted to date. If Ibrahim Halawa was a Catholic from County Mayo rather than a Muslim from Dublin, there might be more action. He was born in Ireland, was 17 years of age when he was arrested and has been in prison for two years.

The Government's policy on Roscommon and its mental health services is a matter of concern. It involves the most vulnerable people in society - those suffering from Alzheimer's disease and mental health issues.

To quote Dr. Kelly: "The Government's policy in Roscommon re ... the Rosalie unit in Castlerea is tantamount to elderly abuse." The former chairperson of the Western Health Board is accusing the Government of elderly abuse. A meeting is taking place tonight in Roscommon. Our motion is No. 16 on the Order Paper. I note that Senator John Kelly from Roscommon is not present today to support the motion.

Comment on this
Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

We do not allude to Members who are not in the House. I ask the Senator to refrain from doing so. The Senator knows how the rule operates here.

Comment on this

There are Members missing who had been speaking on radio-----

Comment on this
Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

Does the Senator have a question for the Deputy Leader?

Comment on this

Is the Senator talking about some of his own again?

Comment on this