asked the Minister for Justice if he intends extending the prison visiting rights granted to church dignitaries to Dáil representatives.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Visiting Rights.
6.
The relevant prison rule merely provides that the governor of a prison shall not allow any person to view the prison with some specified exceptions, which include Government Ministers, certain judges, the Bishops of the Diocese and any person authorised according to instructions issued to the governor by the Minister for Justice.
As regards visits by Deputies, I shall be very pleased to facilitate any Deputies who may wish to visit any or all of the prisons. Arrangements for visits can be made through my Office.
Would the Minister be prepared to include Deputies in that list so as to save them the trouble of going through the rigmarole of phoning his Office and asking for permission to visit prisoners?
Is the Deputy seeking to circumvent my office as a method of obtaining entrance?
How can the bishops circumvent the Minister's authority?
Does it offend the Deputy?
It does offend me.
Would the Minister agree to include TDs on that list?
I will agree to do only as I have stated. Any Dáil Deputy who seeks the facilities of entering any of the prisons in the country can do so and is welcome to do so provided permission is sought through my office.
I have often waited six weeks for the Minister for Justice. Could he not save us all that hassle and include Deputies on the list?
I do not consider it a hassle. I have invited any Deputy who wishes to visit the prisons to come to my office and make an application.
Could the Minister not in reply to the question put forward by Deputy Myra Barry have been a little more considerate? I sense that the Minister would want to be personally abusive in questionaing the right of Deputy Barry——
Ask a question.
I am asking if it is compatible with the high standards of this House for the Minister to treat Deputy Barry in the way he attempted to do.
I do not know what Deputy Harte is talking about.
The Minister questioned the right of Deputy Barry to question the reply.
Nobody on this side of the House speaks under his breath.
Deputy Barry's question was quite legitimate.
(Interruptions.)