Vol. 560 No. 1
848 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to introduce reciprocal agreements for the treatment of prisoners between Ireland and Jamaica; and if not, if there are Irish organisations based in Jamaica which would assist such prisoners and their families. [1644/03]
There are no reciprocal agreements for the treatment of prisoners between Ireland and Jamaica and there are no plans to introduce such agreements. Ireland is, however, a party to the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This convention allows, under certain conditions, for an Irish national to be repatriated in order to serve the remainder of a sentence imposed in another country, where that other country has also ratified the convention.
Jamaica is not, however, a party to the convention. The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the good offices of the Honorary Consul of the UK in Kingston, has provided and will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to any Irish prisoners detained in Jamaica. My Department is not aware of any Irish organisations based in Jamaica which would assist such prisoners and their families.
