Tony Gregory
Question:66 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made representations to the British authorities regarding a person (details supplied); and, if so, the response he has received. [2939/97]
Written Answers. - Representations Regarding Prisoner.
The case to which the Deputy refers has been monitored closely for some years by my Department. As indicated in my replies to questions about this case on 21 November 1995 and 26 September 1996, representations have been made to the British authorities on a number of occasions regarding the conditions of detention for this prisoner and others who are currently held in special secure units. Particular concern has also been expressed on humanitarian grounds about the policy of closed visits which is currently in operation. This has been done through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, most recently at the conference meeting held on 20 November 1996, as well as through the Irish Embassy in London.
On my instructions, the individual in question was one of a number of prisoners visited in a can-sular capacity by an embassy official in the course of a round of visits made over the period 18-20 November 1996. Complaints about the conditions under which he and the other prisoners are held were pursued by embassy officials during a subsequent meeting with British Home Office and Prison Service officials.
The delay in proceeding with court charges against this person and others arising out of an attempted escape from Whitemoor Prison in September 1994 was also raised with the British authorities. As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, the trial on charges of attempted escape recently collapsed for the second time.
For their part, the British authorities maintain that this prisoner's conditions of detention, including the restriction to closed visits, are a function of his "exceptional risk" security classification and have stated that the categorisation of a prisoner is periodically reviewed. I would assure the Deputy that we will continue to point to the need for a humanitarian approach to this issue.
I am also aware of the concerns that have been expressed about the possibility of wrongful conviction in this case. The embassy in London has met with supporters of a campaign which is seeking referral of the conviction to the Court of Appeal by the British Home Secretary and will continue to follow closely developments in this regard in the period ahead.
I note also that this individual has applied for transfer to this jurisdiction under the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. I would once again reiterate that we stand ready to receive all such prisoners who seek to transfer to this jurisdiction under the convention.
Michael P. Kitt
Question:67 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations, if any, he has made to the United Kingdom Government regarding the closed legal and family visits for remand prisoners in Belmarsh Prison and on situations where questions of mistreatment of Irish prisoners in Great Britain have been raised. [3006/97]
The Government closely monitors humanitarian aspects of the treatment of republican prisoners in Britain. I have personally raised these issues at political level through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and at other ministerial meetings, and our views have also been conveyed to the British authorities through the Irish Embassy in London. Humanitarian issues relating to individual prisoners are raised with the British authorities on an ongoing basis. Consular visits are also made to the prisoners by officials of the Irish Embassy in London. The prisoners to which the Deputy refers were most recently visited by an embassy official on 18 November 1996.
The embassy subsequently met with the British Home Office and Prison Service for a full discussion of issues relating to the conditions and treatment of the republican prisoners in Britain which had been raised by the prisoners themselves and by Members of the Oireachtas who had recently visited them. I also raise the conditions of republican prisoners classified as exceptional risk, including thoses on remand, at the most recent meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference held in Belfast on 20 November 1996. In all our contacts with the British authorities, the humanitarian difficulties for the prisoners and their families have been highlighted.
In this context, the system of closed visits for republican prisoners classified as exceptional risk has been the subject of representations to the British authorities on many occasions. As indicated in my response to a question from Deputy Tony Gregory on 17 December 1996, the Government has consistently taken the view that these prisoners should be permitted open visits, especially for family members and consultations with legal representatives. For their part, the British authorities have continued to state that the application of the policy of closed visits is a function of these prisoners' categorisation as exceptional risk prisoners and that these prisoners' categorisation is periodically reviewed.
I am advised that the legal representative for a number of the prisoners concerned is reported to be in the process of seeking a judicial review of the closed visits policy. I would assure the Deputy that developments in this matter will be followed closely by my Department in the period ahead.