Ibrahim Halawa - It’s time for Brussels to act

IF our membership of the European Union is to mean anything beyond free trade, cheaper flights, and enhanced consumer rights, perhaps it is time for the Irish government to seek a collective bloc response to the continued incarceration of Ibrahim Halawa, whose trial in Cairo has been postponed for the 27th time.

Ibrahim, an Irish citizen and, by extension, an EU national, has now spent more than 33 months in prison in violation

of both Egyptian and international human rights law. His continuing detention was condemned last year by a European Parliament resolution, supported by 98% of MEPs,