The Egyptian trial of Irish man Ibrahim Halawa has been postponed for the 18th time.

Mr Halawa, who turned 21 in prison last December, has spent almost three and a half years incarcerated.

Amnesty International has declared him a Prisoner of Conscience. He was 17 when he was first detained in August 2013.

“It is beyond farcical that Ibrahim Halawa has now endured 21 delays in his trial, spending 1,327 days imprisoned in Egypt [...] His ongoing detention represents an inexcusable violation of both international and Egyptian law,” said Fiona Crowley, Research and Legal Manager with Amnesty International Ireland.

However, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said he "welcomed" the progress of the trial in a statement.

"Last week the Government took the unprecedented step of deploying a doctor to Egypt to meet with Ibrahim Halawa," he said. "He recommended that Ibrahim Halawa be released to facilitate further specialist medical assessments. Following that report, the Taoiseach again wrote to President El Sisi, again appealing for Ibrahim Halawa’s release, stressing the Irish Government’s humanitarian and medical concerns.

“The Government will continue with its efforts to have Ibrahim Halawa returned to Ireland on humanitarian grounds without delay."