asked the Minister for Justice in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 26 February, 1985, which stated inter alia that no trace of representations from Deputy Keating can be found relating to this prisoner's case (details supplied); if he will confirm, in the light of the enclosed data clearly indicating that representations had been made and responded to, that the above-mentioned information in his reply was incorrect.
Written Answers. - Transfer of Prisoner.
627.
Limerick East): The question appears to be based on a misunderstanding of my previous reply which did not say that representations had not been received.
As the Deputy's previous question indicated that representations had been made by him, that was of course accepted as fact but, as stated in the reply, no trace of representations could be found. I was not, however, then in a position to say whether the representations had gone astray in transmission or whether they had been received and subsequently mislaid. Since it is now established that they were received last July, it is clear that they were mislaid and I am glad to have this opportunity to express my regret that that happened.
However, I would have to make it clear that nothing that could have been said by way of representations last July would have made it possible for me to agree to a transfer of the person in question at that time or in subsequent months. As regards the possibility of transfer, the position remain as stated in my previous reply.