Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 6

Written Answers. - Prisoner Transfers.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Deputy will be aware that considerable progress has been made in this area recently. Eleven republican prisoners have been transferred to Ireland from the UK since 3 December 1997 under the provisions of the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This brought the total number of republican prisoners transferred to date from the United Kingdom to Ireland under the provisions of the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons to 17.

I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, that there are currently 13 convicted republican prisoners in the United Kingdom. Of these, 11 have requested a transfer to this jurisdiction, one has requested a transfer to Northern Ireland, and another has not yet made an application.

Of the applications for transfer to this jurisdiction, I recently have consented to the transfers of five more prisoners and the necessary documentation as required under the Convention has been returned to the UK authorities for their further consideration. The consent of the Home Secretary, and the formal consent of the prisoners is now awaited — there must be three-way prior consent from the sentenced person and from the authorities of both States for a transfer to take place. On receipt of same, arrangements will be made to apply to the High Court for the necessary warrants authorising their transfers into this jurisdiction and their continued detention here.

Of the remaining six cases who have applied for transfer here, two applications are under consideration in my Department at present. There are three recently convicted prisoners in the UK whose applications have yet to be formally transmitted for our consideration by the UK authorities and one application is currently on hold pending the resolution of the applicant's appeal.

The Deputy will be aware that it has been established Government policy in line with the humanitarian provisions of the Convention that, whenever possible, prisoners should be permitted to serve their sentences close to their families. I assure the Deputy that representations will continue to be made on behalf of those imprisoned in the UK who have applied for transfer here, and that every effort will continue to be made to process these applications as expeditiously as possible.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The person referred to in the question has not contacted my Department concerning his interest in a transfer here. However, the United Kingdom authorities have confirmed that he has only recently applied for transfer and that his request is currently under consideration.

My Department will now formally write to the UK authorities requesting that his application, with the necessary documentation as required under the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, be transmitted as soon as possible for our consideration. Unfortunately, I am unable to say how long it will take his application to be considered. However, on receipt of same, I assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to process this application, as indeed with any other application, as expeditiously as possible.