Vol. 503 No. 3
478 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his response to the concerns expressed by the Dublin peace and justice group (details supplied) in relation to the release of paramilitary prisoners from Irish prisons. [9801/99]
The Government has committed itself, under the Good Friday Agreement, to put in place mechanisms to provide for an accelerated programme for the release of prisoners, including repatriated prisoners, who qualify for such a programme under the terms of the Agreement. Prisoners affiliated to organisations which have not established or are not maintaining a complete and unequivocal ceasefire will not benefit from these arrangements. Part of the mechanism in place under the Agreement is the procedure laid down in the Criminal Justice (Release of Prisoners) Act, 1998 and all proposed releases under the Agreement must go through that procedure.
Twenty four prisoners have been released to date under the terms of the Agreement. Thirteen of these had been repatriated from Britain. There are currently a further 14 repatriated PIRA prisoners in custody in Portlaoise Prison. I can inform the Deputy that the Government is aware of and fully committed to filfilling its obligations under the Agreement.
