Enda Kenny
Question:58 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the number of political prisoners in Irish jails for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Political Prisoners in Irish Jails.
There is no such category of prisoner as is referred to in the question. It is presumed the Deputy is referring to persons sentenced to imprisonment for crimes which may have had a subversive-type motivation. These cases are likely to have been dealt with in the Special Criminal Court, though the jurisdiction of that court is not related exclusively to such cases. The number of all persons committed to custody following conviction by the Special Criminal Court since 1982 is as follows: 1982 — 44; 1983 — 46; 1984 — 28; 1985 — 27; 1986 — 18; 1987 — 12; 1988 — 24; 1989 — 28; 1990 — 31; 1991 — 11; 1992 (to date) — 5.