Jim O'Keeffe
Question:69 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice when she will implement the commitment to ratify the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners.
Ireland is a party to the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons but has not, so far, ratified it. Ratification will require legislation. Unless certain reservations are entered, however, at the time of ratification, serious difficulties for our prisons could be created given that the number of Irish nationals serving sentences abroad far exceeds the number of foreign nationals serving their sentences in this country. While it is impossible to predict accurately the number of Irish nationals in prison abroad who would wish to return or would qualify for it, even low levels of transfer would pose a substantial problem for us because of existing pressures on prison accommodation.
However, I intend to proceed with this matter and to give the preparation of draft legislation to facilitate ratification as much priority as I possibly can. The Deputy will be aware of the extensive and urgent legislative programme set out in the Programme for Government, of the progress I have made to date and of legislative commitments for the immediate future.