The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Pat Breen has this afternoon met with members of the family of Ibrahim Halawa in Leinster House in advance of his visit to Egypt.
Last month, Deputy Breen accepted an invitation from the Egyptian authorities, which followed a formal Committee request to visit Cairo.
Deputy Breen says the meeting with the Halawas and their representatives was an important listening exercise, which will inform the official visit to Cairo, which begins on this Tuesday.
“Today marks the two year anniversary of Ibrahim’s imprisonment in Cairo and the Committee has considered the case on an ongoing basis over the course of his detainment. All Committee Members are united in our grave concern for the well-being of Ibrahim Halawa. This afternoon’s meeting with Ibrahim’s sisters was a valuable opportunity to hear the family’s concerns for Ibrahim’s health and well-being. The discussions will inform my visit – on behalf of the Joint Committee – during which I intend to meet Ibrahim in prison.”
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.