Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
268. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific actions his Department has taken, or will take, in circumstances where an Irish High Court order for the return of children has not been implemented in a non-Hague jurisdiction; and where the parent concerned is being advised to travel to that jurisdiction despite the existence of travel restrictions preventing a guaranteed return to Ireland. [39917/26]
View answer269. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether his Department has sought formal clarification or assurances from the Egyptian authorities in relation to the status of travel restrictions affecting the children of an Irish citizen; and whether any steps have been taken to ensure that the parent and children would be permitted to leave Egypt safely following the execution of custody. [39918/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
I understand the Deputy is referring to a specific case in which my Department has provided extensive and sustained consular assistance over a period of several years. The case has been raised consistently at the highest political and diplomatic levels with the Egyptian authorities, including by successive Taoisigh, Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Cinn Comhairligh and Ambassadors of Ireland to Egypt. Most recently, in April, it was raised by the Taoiseach with the President of Egypt. I raised it with my Egyptian counterpart on my visit to the country in January of this year.
As the Deputy can appreciate, Irish court orders relating to the wrongful removal of children are not enforceable in countries such as Egypt that have not ratified the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Moreover, the Irish courts cannot direct the Egyptian courts. However, the Egyptian courts for their part have also made rulings granting the citizen custody of the children. My Department has received official notification from the Egyptian authorities that they stand ready to enforce those orders and return the children to the citizen. My Department has engaged regularly with the Egyptian authorities in relation to this case and has sought and received written confirmation that the authorities in that jurisdiction will extend all possible cooperation to the Irish citizen within the scope of their consular functions.
In regard to travel restrictions, I understand these are currently under consideration by the Egyptian legal system. In line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), and as expressed in my Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, my Department cannot interfere in the judicial processes of another jurisdiction. My Department has encouraged the Irish citizen concerned to engage with their local legal representative who is best placed to advise on the laws as they relate to their case.
My officials continue to be in frequent contact with the citizen and to provide consular assistance. This has included working with other state entities to offer supports to the citizen to travel to Egypt for the enforcement of the rulings of the Egyptian courts on custody and the return of the children to the citizen.
Given the serious and sensitive nature of the case, my officials will continue to provide appropriate consular assistance to the citizen and to keep me informed on developments in this case.
