Egyptian Ambassador asked to appear before Dáil Committee to speak about Ibrahim Halawa

The Egyptian Ambassador to Ireland is being asked to appear before an Oireachtas Committee over Ibrahim Halawa.

The Dubliner has been held in an Egyptian prison, without trial, for three years.

His court case has been adjourned more than a dozen times.

Two weeks ago, the Dáil passed a motion calling for an increased diplomatic effort to have Mr Halawa returned to Ireland.

As part of that this morning the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Brendan Smith proposed they call in the Egyptian Ambassador to Ireland, Soha Gendi.

"I propose that we invite Ambassador Gendi here before the Committee next Thursday," he said.

"I'm anxious that we get this business dealt with before August."