merrion street

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for 25 minutes this evening.

The Taoiseach expressed his disappointment at the further adjournment of the trial at today’s hearing, until 18 September.  He made clear to President Al-Sisi that his priority was to secure the return of Ibrahim Halawa to Ireland as soon as possible.

President Al-Sisi emphasised that his Government could not interfere in a judicial process but gave the Taoiseach his word that he would resolve the matter swiftly within the Egyptian constitutional and legal framework once the trial concludes and the verdict is known.

Both leaders looked forward to this matter being brought to an early and satisfactory conclusion so that they could concentrate on broader and normal bilateral relations between Ireland and Egypt, in areas like trade, tourism and political cooperation, in the period ahead.