5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether she is aware of very serious concerns about the fairness of the prosecution and trial of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Germany, alongside concerns about the conditions of detention; whether she has raised concerns with the German Government; whether she will send an observer to the trial; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38665/26]

Sentiment score: -0.24

Today, the world is rightly expressing disgust at the treatment of Irish and other activists trying to bring aid to the besieged people of Gaza at the hands of the Israeli regime. However, Germany, a European country, is treating another Irish citizen, another pro-Palestinian activist, in an equally outrageous way. There is a show trial going on and the basic rights of an Irish citizen are being absolutely flouted as he and the other detainees are being prosecuted as criminals and terrorists for protesting against Germany's complicity with Israel's genocide in Gaza. Will the Government send observers to the trial to protect the rights of an Irish citizen, Daniel Tatlow-Devally?

Sentiment score: -0.40

I actually cannot believe my ears. Daniel's family are appealing for the Government to send observers because they fear a show trial situation. The detainees are being prosecuted under anti-organised crime legislation. They are being tried in a high-security court, not a normal court. They are being denied access during the trial to their own legal team. They are brought in handcuffed and put behind high-security glass. They have been kept in more or less solitary confinement – since last September in Daniel's case, or eight months. It is completely unprecedented. Daniel's legal team has called for the judge to be recused, such is the level of bias that has been directed against those on trial, the "Ulm five". To remind the Minister, they were protesting. It was an act of civil disobedience but there was no threat of violence. They videoed themselves. They handed themselves up for arrest peacefully because they were protesting about Elbit Systems or Germany providing arms to Israel for the commission of genocide. Their families are saying the trial is a show trial and that they should be released, and that the Irish Government should send observers to watch the trial to ensure that their rights are upheld at it, given the manner in which it is being conducted. Is the Minister going to do that?

Sentiment score: -0.18

I did not ask for legal assistance; observers are what I asked for.

Sentiment score: -0.10

This points to the duplicity of the Government. It says it is appalled at the treatment of flotilla activists at the hands of the Israeli regime. The flotilla activists, before they were detained, or kidnapped, urged for a vote in favour of the sanctions Bill to sanction Israel but the Government condemned it, said there should not be business as usual and came in here and voted against sanctions. We are getting the same duplicity in the case of Daniel. Will the Minister send observers to the trial, which is what the family are asking for, because it is a show trial? It is absolutely outrageous. Why are the detainees even in custody? They are not a threat to anybody. They are being kept in solitary confinement before their trial in a high-security courthouse behind a glass cage, having been brought in handcuffs. The judge is speaking about them as if they are terrorists when they are actually peace activists opposing German complicity with the genocide in Israel via Elbit Systems, which provides Israel with weapons. Is the Minister going to send observers? I am going to try to get an all-party group to go across to the trial. We will see whether all the parties will send someone. I know the Opposition will, but will the Government do so? Even German MPs are being refused access to the courtroom by the judge. That is how much of a show trial it is.

Sentiment score: -0.10

This is the duplicity of the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.00