Vol. 478 No. 5
107 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of Irish prisoners who have been transferred from British and Northern prisons to the Republic of Ireland in each of the past three years; and the offences for which the prisoners were convicted. [11642/97]
The Council of Europe Convention of 1984 on the transfer of sentenced persons was ratified by Ireland following the passing of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, 1995, and came into effect between this country and other parties to the Convention on 1 November 1995. With effect from this date, it became possible for the first time to commence processing requests for transfers to and from prisons and places of detention in Ireland.
No offenders were transferred in 1995. Seven offenders were transferred from prisons in the United Kingdom in 1996 and two offenders have been transferred so far this year. A further transfer is scheduled to take place next week and more transfers will follow in the coming months. No offender has been transferred from a prison in Northern Ireland in any of the years in question. In fact, no formal application for a transfer to this jurisdiction has been transmitted in relation to any person imprisoned in Northern Ireland.
