The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said he is deeply disappointed by the delay in the trial process concerning Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa in Egypt.
Mr Flanagan said he met the Egyptian ambassador to Ireland Soha Gendi this morning and conveyed to her the Government's "deep concern" at the prolonged nature of the trial.
Yesterday, the trial of Mr Halawa was postponed for the 14th time and has now been put back to 2 October.
Mr Halawa, from Firhouse in Dublin, has spent more than 1,000 days in prison.
The 20-year-old was arrested by the Egyptian army as he took refuge in a Cairo mosque while Muslim Brotherhood protesters staged a "day of rage" outside in August 2013.
Mr Halawa is facing a mass trial alongside 493 other defendants and faces a possible death sentence.
Charlie Flanagan told the Seanad this afternoon that he is acutely aware that Mr Halawa’s detention is a cause of grief for his family and the wider community in Dublin.
He said, however, that although the Government has proactively used all the diplomatic tools available, the reality is the Government cannot intervene with a criminal trial in another jurisdiction.
"We have proactively used all the diplomatic tools available to us to ensure that the Egyptian government at the highest level fully understands the political importance that the Irish Government attaches to a resolution of this case."
He told senators that he is aware there are "strongly held views" about how the Government has approached this case, adding, "I want ensure you that my approach and that of the Government is under continuous review."
Minister Flanagan said he is contact with Mr Halawa’s family and with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry and the Government’s clear strategy has had the objective of seeing that "Ibrahim is released and returned to Ireland".
He said the Taoiseach has also discussed the case with the Egyptian president and "the Egyptian government is in no doubt about the Irish Government's position of wanting Mr Halawa's release."
The minister said he met Mr Halawa's father, sister and legal representatives about the case on Tuesday and a further meeting between his officials and the Halawa family will take place in the coming days.
He also indicated that officials from the Irish Embassy in Cairo are organising a further consular visit to Mr Halawa in his place of detention shortly.
