A cautious welcome is being given to news that a Clare TD will travel to Egypt to visit Ibrahim Halawa.
The 19-year-old Irish student is expected to go to trial on Sunday – almost two years after he was arrested.
Clare TD Pat Breen, who's Chairman of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, has been invited to visit E -bra-hime Hallow wa who was imprisoned in Cairo in 2013 at a time when protests were taking place in the city.
The invitation follows a request made to the Embassy of Egypt in Ireland that a small delegation visit the 19-year-old but Egyptian authorities have instead given permission to only Pat Breen as Chair, along with an advisor to travel there.
Ibrahim has been imprisoned for almost two years and Deputy Breen says there are concerns over his welfare.
Amnesty is giving a cautious welcome to news of the visit but Colm O'Gorman says he's not sure if it will have an impact.
Discussions are underway today between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Egyptian Officials and details of the visit are expected to be announced in the coming days.
