asked the Minister for Justice whether he will take steps to establish a commission to inquire into prison conditions and penal reform in Ireland, with a view to advising the Government what reforms, if any, are required in the existing system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Reform.
Mr. Boland
I do not see any necessity for the appointment of a commission on the lines suggested in the question.
I am satisfied that, as regards the treatment of prisoners, this State compares favourably with the countries which are generally recognised as most advanced in this matter. Further improvements may be found to be practicable and desirable, but I feel that I have, or can obtain, sufficient information and advice to enable me to deal with the matter without resorting to the appointment of a formal commission.
Similarly, as regards reform of the law, I have already come to decisions as to the points on which the existing Statutes dealing with imprisonment, penal servitude, et cetera, ought to be amended. Proposals for that purpose will be laid before the Oireachtas in due course and when these proposals have been dealt with it is intended to ask the Oireachtas to pass a Consolidation Act, re-enacting the whole law, as amended, in modern form. Here again, I do not feel that there is any necessity for a commission.
It is, of course, always possible that particular problems may arise from time to time of such a kind as to render it desirable that they should be considered by a commission. If and when that occurs, I shall not hesitate to adopt that procedure.
Is the Minister aware that certain persons whose heads are as soft as their hearts, and others who are merely malicious, have instituted a kind of campaign to present the con ditions in the penal establishments of this country as being far from what they in fact are, and in view of the pretty common technique employed in conspiracies of that kind does the Minister not consider that the wisest way to deal with this is to lay bare the facts in the fullest light of day—(1) with a view to letting the public know precisely what the facts are and (2), having laid those facts clearly before the people, to make manifest before the whole people such remedial measures as the Government consider requisite, and affording any interested party an opportunity to make informed suggestions as additional proposals to those already resolved upon by the Minister and the Government to which he belongs?
Mr. Boland
I am aware that there is such a campaign but I do not see any necessity for the setting up of a commission. There are plenty of ways open to interested people—Deputies and others—to make representations and if anything is found to be wrong it can be brought to the notice of the House, and when the consolidation of the Prisons Acts comes before the Oireachtas any proposals the Deputies care to make can be considered. I think it was the Taoiseach himself who observed that some people in this House know all about prison conditions, first hand, from inside as well as outside. I think it would be much better to leave things as they are and if things are to be done they can be done by administrative action. Setting up a commission every time people make complaints would only waste time and do no good.
If we contemplate in this House to consolidate legislation to deal with the whole question of penal law and administration, is there not something to be said for providing all Deputies of this House with an opportunity of informing themselves from authoritative reports and minutes of evidence from a reliable commission of what the true facts are? Will the Minister consider it?
Mr. Boland
The position is that we find it impossible to keep certain types of people who should not be on commissions off them—soft-hearted and soft-headed people. That is my opinion. It would be impossible to keep those people off and the last position would be worse than the first.
Do not put them on.
Mr. Boland
Then I will be told that I am putting on only supporters of my own.