Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Temporary Release of Prisoners.

Seán Haughey

Question:

395 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 was given temporary release from the training unit at Christmas 1997 and subsequent temporary releases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15992/98]

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

I am aware of the person to whom the Deputy refers but it is long standing practice not to comment in detail on the case of an individual prisoner and I do not propose to make an exception to that practice in this instance.

The granting of temporary or early release is a feature of prisons systems internationally and has been operated under statute in this country since 1960 by successive Ministers for Justice. The positive and negative reasons for the system have been well debated in this House before. Prisonsers are granted temporary release for a variety of reasons and for periods ranging from a few hours to full temporary release or early release. Temporary release is an important vehicle for reintegrating an offender into the community in a planned way.

Each case of early release is considered on the basis of the views of the governor of the institution in which the offender is imprisoned, the Garda Síochána and, if relevant, any recommendations of the Sentence Review Group, taking into consideration such matters as any threat to the community which might arise, the nature of the offence, the offender's behaviour while the custody and any compassionate grounds whicih might merit special consideration.