Tony Gregory
Question:246 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a release date will be available to a person (details supplied) in Limerick Prison. [10918/99]
Written Answers. - Release of Prisoners.
The multi-party Agreement on Northern Ireland provides for the early release of prisoners "convicted of scheduled offences in Northern Ireland or, in the case of those sentenced outside Northern Ireland, similar offences". In this jurisdiction this includes prisoners convicted of similar offences before the Special Criminal Court.
Prisoners who are affiliated to organisations which have not established or are not maintaining a complete and unequivocal ceasefire will not benefit from the terms of the multi-party Agreement.
No decision has been made, to date, as to whether the person referred to by the Deputy qualifies for consideration under the terms of the Agreement. It is possible that he may, in time, come within the definition of "qualifying prisoners" in the multi-party Agreement. If this happens his case could be referred to the Independent Commission provided for in the Criminal Justice (Release of Prisoners) Act, 1998. In carrying out its functions, the commission will have regard to the factors that are to be taken into account under the Agreement in individual cases, that is, the seriousness of the offence or offences involved and the need to protect the community.