Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 3

Written Answers. - Irish Prisoners' Transfer Applications.

Joe Costello

Question:

103 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of Irish prisoners serving sentences in English prisons who have applied for transfer to prisons in the Republic of Ireland under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, 1995; the number that are Republican prisoners; the number of applications that have been forwarded by the Home Secretary to the Department of Justice; the outcome of the applications to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8015/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

A total of 89 Irish persons who are serving sentences in the United Kingdom have applied or expressed an interest in transferring to this jurisdiction to date. The number of Republican prisoners in this category is 20.

A total of 29 applications to transfer to this jurisdiction have been formally transmitted by the UK authorities to date. I have formally consented to five of these applications and the remaining are being processed by my Department in consultation with various other offices, including the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and, in some cases, in further discussions with the Home Office.