asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider the advisability of obtaining the assistance of a parole board, appointed by the Oireachtas, to deal with the granting of parole to prisoners seeking to avail of such arrangements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Paroling of Prisoners.
40.
I am satisfied, having regard to the comparatively small numbers of persons who are serving prison sentences and to the limits within which the powers of temporary release can usefully be exercised, that the establishment of a parole board would cause needless overlapping of the existing machinery and would serve no practical purpose. If the Deputy has in mind the re-establishment, under a parole board, of a system of release on licence such as obtained in this country up to about 20 years ago for penal servitude prisoners and Borstal inmates I would not agree with him.
Remission in whole or in part of sentences imposed by the Courts is exercised by the Minister for Justice pursuant to the powers given to him under the provisions of section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, 1951.
The grant of temporary release is also exercised by the Minister pursuant to the powers given to him by the Criminal Justice Act, 1960 for the purposes of taking up employment, attending to urgent farm work, visiting sick relatives, attending at funerals of near relatives and matters of that kind and are, again, matters for my personal consideration based on the police and prison reports which may incorporate the views of the chaplains, medical officers and visiting committees.
I experience no difficulty in dealing expeditiously with cases submitted to me. I am satisfied that the prison administration including the Governors, chaplains, medical officers and visiting committees are exercising their functions in a conscientious, humane manner and I do not propose to make any change from the existing systems of permanent or temporary release.