Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2013
476. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Irish nationals serving IPP sentences in British prisons; and if he has discussed this matter with his British counterpart in the context of allowing these prisoners to be returned to this jurisdiction under the TERS scheme after they have served their minimum tariff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12757/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that issues generally relating to Irish nationals serving sentences abroad is a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. However, in the context of possible repatriation to this jurisdiction under the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, I understand that a legal difficulty arises in cases of persons serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection in that no comparable sentence currently exists in this jurisdiction. It is not therefore possible to process the transfer here of such persons.
