Austin Currie
Question:9 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will publish the report of the director of medical services at Mountjoy Prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/99]
Written Answers. - Prison Medical Service.
I assume the question refers to the most recent report on medical and therapeutic facilities within prison establishments prepared by the director of prison medical services who is an official of my Department. While the report is for the calendar year 1997, it refers to previous reports covering earlier years.
My Department received a request last year for access to this report under the Freedom of Information Act. As the Deputy will be aware, the Act makes provision for the appointment of deciding officers within each Department, whose function is to decide whether access should be provided to information that may be the subject of a request under the Act. The Act also provides for an internal departmental review mechanism to consider appeals.
The deciding officer and the appeals officer decided that the request for access to the report in question should be refused. This decision was appealed last October to the information commissioner, who must make a decision within four months from the time he receives the appeal. The information commissioner's office has been in contact with my Department about the appeal and consultations are ongoing.
When the decision of the information commissioner is received – it is expected shortly – my Department will implement it fully, whether the decision is to refuse access to the report completely or partially or to allow complete access.