asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to implement any of the proposals of the annual reports of the Visting Committee of St. Patrick's Institution, North Circular Road, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin.
10.
As I indicated on 9 November last in a written reply to a similar question, recommendations made by visting committees receive careful consideration and frequently it is possible to adopt them. As far as St. Patrick's Institution is concerned, many of the proposals made over the years by the visting committee to that institution have been implemented. Again, however, I must emphasise, as I did in my earlier reply, that it is not possible for me, as it was not possible for my predecessors, to accept some of those recommendations.
Can the Minister indicate to what extent the proposals in the annual report of the visting committee for the year 1975-1976 were implemented?
The educational aspects of the report were implemented to some degree. Other aspects were considered. Unfortunately they were not found to be acceptable. There was one grotesque suggestion in one of the reports—that is a personal opinion. There was a recommendation which would give the visiting committees appellate jurisdiction over the Governor and put members of the staff including the Governor in the position of having to appear before the committee and defend themselves against accusations by a prisoner in the presence of the prisoner who, according to the recommendation, would be entitled to the assistance of a member of the committee as an advocate. This is Alice in Wonderland.
I do not accept the Minister's interpretation.
I am entitled to my interpretation.
And I am entitled to reject it. Has any progress been made on the question of providing tuition for the inmates of St. Patrick's Institution over the summer months as recommended by committees over the past decade? Secondly, has any improvement been made with regard to the time of expiry of such committees which are usually followed by a vacuum period during which there is no committee in existence despite a statutory obligation that there should be?
I am aware that Deputy Keating served in a voluntary capacity on this committee and has a special interest in it. On the question of operating the school during the summer months, there is no doubt that is a desirable objective. It is hoped to achieve it this summer. Every effort is being made to ensure that the problem will be resolved this summer. The interim arrangements made for 1978 did not work out. It is hoped that what the Deputy desires will be realised. We will leave it at that for the moment if the Deputy so wishes.
Surely it is reasonable to ask whether the Minister is in a position to guarantee tuition during the summer months.
It is reasonable. I probably should have the information available but I have not. I will undertake to write to the Deputy.