It is proposed to take No 1 today. Lest anyone will anticipate from the Cathaoirleach's reference to 5.30 p.m. that I expect a very rapid conclusion of the debate, the reason that I now propose that the House finish this Report Stage at 5.30 p.m. is because the removal of the remains of Prison Officer Stack will take place this evening to Portlaoise. Members of this House may wish to attend and, indeed, the Minister for Justice would very much like to attend on that occasion. For the same reason, that the funeral takes place tomorrow, the proposal is that the House should sit tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. and taking then Nos. 2 and 3 on the Order Paper today then resuming the Criminal Justice Bill.
Order of Business.
Due to the unfortunate circumstances of the funeral this evening I do not think the House could do anything else but agree to the order as suggested by the Leader of the House. I should like to take this opportunity to convey my sympathy to the family of Prison Officer Stack. As a member of the prison service he had been doing his duty in this State in an exemplary manner for many years. The cowardly attack on him, and his subsequent death, is a matter of grave concern to us on this side of the House and, I am sure, to the House in general. I do not think anybody could condone what happened in this instance. I sincerely hope that the sympathy of the nation will go out to the family of Prison Officer Stack the same as it has to the families of every other member of the security forces who have been in any way harmed over the past number of years.
I should like to be associated with the sentiments of sympathy expressed by Deputy Lanigan to Mrs. Sheila Stack and her family. Coming from Portlaoise where this officer has worked and resided for many years I am aware that it was a tremendous shock to the community. I should like to be associated with the expression of sympathy to the family.
On behalf of the Labour Party I want to be associated with the expression of condolence to the widow of Prison Officer Stack and to express our abhorrence at this continuing kind of violent action which takes place, particularly in the area of security.
It is appropriate that somebody like myself who is identified with the very critical position in our prisons should very publicly and explicitly record the deep shock and sympathy with the family of Prison Officer Stack. I would have to say that nothing could ever justify an assault on a prison officer, not to mention the sort of thing that happened to Prison Officer Stack. It is extremely regrettable. I, and I believe I speak for the Independent Members, wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy.
Order of Business agreed to.