James McDaid
Question:69 Dr. McDaid asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to Irish prisoners held in British prisons. [17646/95]
Written Answers. - Irish Prisoners in Britain.
The Deputy will be aware that the normal practice is that consular visits to prisoners overseas are conducted by officials of our Embassies rather than by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, I wish to assure him that I have been monitoring the situation of the republican prisoners in Britain very closely over the past several months, in view of the many complaints made on a range of matters, including prison conditions, problems over visiting arrangements for the prisoners' families, health concerns and other difficulties. I have personally raised these issues at political level through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and at other Ministerial meetings. Our views have also been made known to the British authorities through the Irish Embassy in London.
Officials of the Irish Embassy in London have, on my instructions, made regular consular visits to the relevant prisons. They have met with the prisoners concerned in each case and discussed their complaints with the prison authorities. Visits over the past year were as follows:
|
21 November 1994 |
Whitemoor Prison |
Consular Visit to five prisoners |
|
18 January 1995 |
Full Sutton |
Consular Visit to four prisoners |
|
16 March 1995 |
Belmarsh Prison |
Consular Visit to five prisoners |
|
24 July 1995 |
Belmarsh Prison |
Consular Visit to four prisoners |
|
25 July 1995 |
Whitemoor Prison |
Consular Visit to eight prisoners |
|
21 August 1995 |
Whitemoor Prison |
Consular Visit to one prisoner |
|
7 November 1995 |
Frankland Prison |
Consular Visit to three prisoners |
A further consular visit to five republican prisoners at Belmarsh is expected to take place this week.
As the Deputy is aware, several members of the Oireachtas have also visited republican prisoners in Britain and they have first-hand knowledge of the complaints which I and my Department have been dealing with in recent months. The health of the prisoners has always been my first concern, particularly so in the case of two prisoners who were until recently engaged in a protest at Whitemoor Prison. That protest has now ended and both prisoners have been moved out of the special secure unit at Whitemoor. I hope that they will soon be transferred to prison in Ireland.
The Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons entered into force in this jurisdiction on 1 November last. The Government believe that this offers a constructive way forward in dealing with the problems faced by the republican prisoners in Britain and their families. We have made clear that we stand ready to receive those who wish to be transferred to this jurisdiction. In the meantime, Embassy officials will continue to maintain contact with the prisoners through regular visits.