asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the escape of two prisoners from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin on Monday, 11th March, 1974, in view of the inquiry held into security after a previous escape and the reassurances then and subsequently given by him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountjoy Prison Escape.
23.
The circumstances surrounding the escape are being inquired into in detail and I am not in a position to make any statement at present.
Arising out of what the Minister has not said, can he make any statement to the House on this serious matter? This escape occurred on 11th March——
The Deputy must not make a statement.
I am asking the Minister why he is again putting off making a statement?
The reason is that I am not prepared to make a statement until such time as an inquiry has been completed and the full facts are available to me. To make a statement in advance of the full facts could unwittingly mislead the House and could be unjust to the people concerned. I am not prepared to do either of those things.
This is the first intimation we have received that an inquiry is being conducted——
The Deputy again making a statement.
This is a serious matter. The Chair allowed nine supplementaries on another question. Can the Minister state who is conducting the inquiry?
If the Deputy had phoned my office after the escape he would have been told that an inquiry was being initiated. This is the first time a public announcement has been made because it is the first time I have been asked publicly about the matter. The inquiry is being conducted by officers of my Department.
I reject the suggestion that I should have phoned the Minister's office——
I am not suggesting the Deputy should have.
I tried to put down a Private Notice Question but it was ruled out of order. Arising out of what the Minister has told us. I am asking him about the propriety of asking officials of his Department to investigate this matter. Having regard to the helicopter escape——
This is Question Time. I am calling Question No. 24.
In view of the commission set up under Judge Finlay, could he not have got another judge to investigate this matter? This is a very serious matter.
Can the Minister state if the commission that was set up to inquire into security the last time there was a major escape from Mountjoy have reported and, if so, if the recommendations have been implemented?
That is a separate question.
Can the Minister state if this escape was resonably foreseeable?
Every prisoner in every jail is potentially an escapee.
In the particular circumstances of this escape, does the Minister not accept that it was particularly foreseeable——
The Chair has called the next question, Question No. 24.
(Interruptions.)
I have called Question No. 24 and the Chair will not be intimidated by a remark like that.
I think that is a very unfair remark to make to me in view of my record in this House of obedience to the Chair and I resent it very much.
Question No. 24, please.
Nobody obeys the Chair more than I do and I think that is an unfair remark with regard to my behaviour.
The Deputy persists in asking questions when the Chair has passed on to the next question.
It is an unfair remark and I will not be——
I have passed on to the next question, No. 24. I have refused to concede Deputy Wilson the opportunity and I cannot concede it to anybody else.
The Chair made an unfair remark about my behaviour in this House.
I am sorry if I did, Deputy. Question No. 24.
Is it intended that the findings of the inquiry will be made public?
Question No. 24, please.
Surely I am entitled to ask that.
Question No. 24.
This is a matter of security.
Is it the Chair's duty to protect Ministers or is it the Chair's duty to protect the rights of each Member of the House?
The report of the inquiry will not be made public. It has gone to the printers.
When the Chair asks that we pass on to the next question he expects to be obeyed by both sides of the House. I have called Question No. 24.
(Interruptions.)
I did not hear the Minister's reply to my Supplementary Question. I asked if this escape was reasonably foreseeable?
I said that every prisoner is a potential escapee. Beyond that I cannot go.
Does the Minister not distinguish between these two prisoners and every other prisoner? Does he not distinguish between the Littlejohns and every other prisoner?
Fianna Fáil should not talk too much about the Little-johns.
(Interruptions.)