TDs travel to Egypt to meet Ibrahim Halawa and Egyptian government

According to thejournal.ie, the visit was confirmed by an Oireachtas spokesman last night who said the politicians were invited by the Egyptian speaker of their house of representatives.

A spokesman told The Journal: “The purpose of the visit is to discuss parliamentary relations and foster bilateral cooperation in the areas of foreign relations, communications, agriculture, trade, transport and tourism, and to raise the case of Ibrahim Halawa, who has been in jail awaiting trial since August 2013.”

The TDs will meet with members of the Egyptian government, including meeting the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El Sissi, the speaker of the Egyptian parliament, and their trade minister, among others.

The TDs who are travelling are:
Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghail, TD
Darragh O’Brien, Fianna Fáil
Colm Brophy, Fine Gael
Brendan Howlin, Labour
Paul Murphy, Anti Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit
Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin
Eamon Ryan, Green Party
Noel Grealish, Rural Independent Group

Ibrahim Halawa and his three sisters were arrested and detained after being involved in protests surrounding the ousting of President Mohammad Morsi from power. Read our exclusive interview with Somaia Halawa about that turbulent summer and the campaign for Ibrahim's release here