Vol. 476 No. 5
15 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will visit Irish prisoners in British jails where there is reason to believe their treatment is in contravention of international conventions on human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7548/97]
16 Dr. McDaid asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the restricted regime operating in special secure units where Irish prisoners are held on up to 23 hour lockups, in breach of Rules 43 and 64 of the European Prison Rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5765/97]
I propose to answer Question Nos. 15 and 16 together.
The Government's position with regard to humanitarian aspects of the treatment of Irish prisoners in Britain is widely known and has been stated by me on many occasions in this House and elsewhere. I have 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. In all our representations, we have consistently emphasised the need for prisoners to be treated in a sensitive and humane manner. We have expressed particular concern to the British authorities about the impact on the health and mental welfare of prisoners held under the very restrictive regime operating in special secure units at Belmarsh and elsewhere.
On my instructions, several consular visits have been made to the prisoners by officials of the Embassy in London in the past year or so. The most recent visits to the prisoners, to which the Deputy referred, were made over the period 18 to 20 November 1996 and I have directed that further visits should be made in the very near future. The fullest use of all the available consular facilities is the most useful and appropriate way to follow up on the political representations which I and other Government colleagues make to our opposite numbers at senior political level.
I am of course aware of Deputy Deasy's efforts to encourage a visit by a Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to the prisoners in Britain. I have instructed our Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe to monitor this matter and she will respond to any request for information or assistance received in this context.
I am also aware of Rules 43 and 64 contained in Council of Europe Recommendation No. R(87)3. These rules govern contact with the outside world and treatment objectives and regimes. Our representations on prisoner issues have been in line with the spirit of these rules. In particular, the Government has consistently taken the view that these prisoners should be permitted open visits, especially for family members and consultations with legal representatives. Those opinions have been conveyed to the British authorities on many occasions.
On my instructions, further representations about this issue have been made on an ongoing basis by the Irish Embassy in London. In response, the British prison service has advised that from now on it will use its discretion in granting open visits to exceptional risk prisoners where it is satisfied there are large numbers of documents to be seen and discussed by a prisoner and his or her legal advisor. A considerable number of remand prisoners at Belmarsh are reported to have recently benefited from this relaxation of the closed visits rule.
While this is a welcome development, we will continue to persue prison issues, including the question of visiting arrangements for prisoners' family members, in the period ahead. The conditions of Irish prisoners in Britain will continue to be closely monitored by my Department and by the Embassy in London.
We should not be afraid to say that the treatment of Irish prisoners, whether by the courts, the police, the prison system or the establishment in Britain, is racist. We should demand that action be taken at the highest level to stop this treatment. It appears to be politically popular in Britain to mistreat Irish people, particularly prisoners. That is an appalling state of affairs. What more can we do about this matter?
On purely humanitarian grounds, the case for the improvement of prisoners' conditions, particularly those detained in secure units, is pressing and imperative. Some improvements have been made, but the position is not satisfactory. We will continue to make representations to ensure prisoners are treated in a humane and acceptable manner.
It appears to be politically fashionable to abuse Irish prisoners in British jails. This is obvious from the British Minister's comments about Róisín McAliskey to one of his constituents, which merely confirmed the Home Secretary's attitude on Irish prisoners. Does the Minister agree the treatment of Irish prisoners in British jails is crucial to the restoration of an unequivocal ceasefire? Will he convey this message once again to the British Government? Did he raise Danny McNamee's case with Sir Patrick Mayhew at the recent Anglo-Irish Conference meeting?
Prisoners certainly have an influence on those who have the power to restore the ceasefire and that must be taken into account at all times. We will continue to seek proper and humane conditions for prisoners, irrespective of where they are detained. The McNamee case was raised with the British on many occasions and the Secretary of State and I discussed it last week and on many other occasions. It is probably the case which is most often brought to my attention by Members of this House and many people outside the House. We will continue to press that justice is done.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
