Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 March 2013
161. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the names of members of each prison visiting committee; when each person was appointed; when his or her term expires; the number of vacant positions on each committee at present; the way he proposes to fill these vacancies; if he will advertise these publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13294/13]
View answerVisiting Committee members are appointed for a period of three years by the Minister for Justice and Equality under the Prisons (siting Committees) Act 1925 and Prisons (siting Committees) Order 1925. There are fourteen Prison siting Committees in existence - one for each institution. Each siting Committee comprises no more than six members, and only suitable people with appropriate qualifications and a genuine interest in prison issues are appointed. There are currently 18 vacancies which I am in the process of filling. Details on membership for each Committee are set out in the following tables.
The Government has approved the drafting of a General Scheme of an Inspection of Places of Detention Bill, which will include provisions to make siting Committees more effective, while they continue their role of visiting prisons, meeting with prisoners, and liaising on their behalf with prison authorities. A link will be established between the siting Committees and the Inspector of Prisons. As part of these plans, it is intended to expand the role of the Inspector of Prisons. I believe this will greatly enhance the Inspector's independent oversight of the prison system. Subject to competing legislative priorities, it is expected that the General Scheme will be published early this year. When work on preparation of the General Scheme has been completed, I will be seeking Government approval for its publication to facilitate a consultation process in advance of drafting and publication of the Bill.
LIST OF CURRENT PRISON VISITING COMMITTEE VACANCIES
|
Prison / Place of Detention |
Current membership |
No. of appointments required for figure of six on each committee (Vacancies) |
|
Arbour Hill |
5 |
1 |
|
Castlerea |
3 |
3 |
|
Cloverhill |
2 |
4 |
|
Cork |
4 |
2 |
|
Dóchas |
5 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
6 |
0 |
|
Loughan House |
6 |
0 |
|
Midlands |
6 |
0 |
|
Mountjoy |
4 |
2 |
|
Portlaoise |
4 |
2 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
4 |
2 |
|
St. Patrick's |
5 |
1 |
|
Training Unit |
6 |
0 |
|
Wheatfield |
6 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
66 |
18 |
LIST OF VISITING COMMITTEE MEMBERS (12 MARCH, 2013)
|
Prison |
Member |
Appointment date |
Expiry date |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
Rita Hayes Abdullah Bulbulia Wilhelmina Daly Paddy Murray Angela O'Connor |
23.01.12 23.01.12 23.01.12 28.03.12 26.10.12 |
22.01.15 22.01.15 22.01.15 27.03.15 25.10.15 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
Michael Nevin Eddie Brady Martin Daly |
28.03.12 22.10.12 22.10.12 |
27.03.15 21.10.15 21.10.15 |
|
Cloverhill Prison |
Margaret Downey Fintan Hudson |
12.03.13 12.03.13 |
11.03.16 11.03.16 |
|
Cork Prison |
Donie O'Keeffe Dermot O'Connell Mary Loughnane Tomas Ryan |
08.07.10 23.01.12 23.01.12 22.10.12 |
07.07.13 22.01.15 22.01.15 21.10.15 |
|
Dóchas Centre |
Noel Cloak Bernie Donnelly Mary Elliott Ruth Gallagher Anne Delaney |
23.01.12 23.01.12 23.01.12 22.10.12 26.10.12 |
22.01.15 22.01.15 22.01.15 21.10.15 25.10.15 |
|
Limerick Prison |
Maria Gorman Val Rooney Mary Prendergast John Higgins Patricia McCarthy James Houlihan |
21.04.10 23.01.12 15.02.12 20.02.12 28.03.12 26.10.12 |
20.04.13 22.01.15 14.02.15 19.02.15 27.03.15 25.10.15 |
|
Loughan House Place of Detention |
Francis McDermott Gerry O'Connor Kathleen Richey Andrew Cullen Patrick Boyle Peter Cutliffe |
08.06.10 24.06.10 23.01.12 23.01.12 23.01.12 03.12.12 |
07.06.13 23.06.13 22.01.15 22.01.15 22.01.15 02.12.15 |
|
Midlands Prison |
John Cronin Brigid Teefy Colm Wiley Paddy Boland Nuala Halpin Colette Fennelly |
01.05.10 01.05.10 01.05.10 15.05.10 08.11.10 08.10.12 |
30.04.13 30.04.13 30.04.13 14.05.13 07.11.13 07.10.15 |
|
Mountjoy Prison |
Liam Hogan Stephen Langton Joe Aherne Tom Crean |
09.01.11 10.01.11 23.01.12 03.12.12 |
08.01.14 09.01.14 22.01.15 02.12.15 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
Anne Turley Eilis Croke Brian O'Neil Margaret Guijt-Lawlor |
11.04.10 08.07.10 26.10.12 03.12.12 |
10.04.13 07.07.13 25.10.15 02.12.15 |
|
Shelton Abbey Place of Detention |
Gerry Delaney Thomas Gregan Margaret Short Richard Codd |
23.01.02 15.02.12 15.02.12 21.02.12 |
22.01.15 14.02.15 14.02.15 20.02.15 |
|
St. Patrick's Institution |
Yvonne Ní Mhurchú Denis Murphy Sean Lyons Emma Muldowney Niall Counihan |
02.05.10 23.01.12 23.01.12 23.01.12 15.02.12 |
01.05.13 22.01.15 22.01.15 22.01.15 14.02.15 |
|
Training Unit Place of Detention |
Thomas Twomey Sadie Jordan Fintan Kelly Deirdre Kenneally Noel Turley Patrick Holton |
01.05.10 23.01.12 23.01.12 23.01.12 23.01.12 14.01.13 |
30.04.13 22.01.15 22.01.15 22.01.15 22.01.15 13.01.16 |
|
Wheatfield Prison |
John O'Neill Stewart Stephens Betty Gleeson Kathleen Gill Brenda Coyne Anne Carter |
14.01.11 23.01.12 22.02.12 28.03.12 26.10.12 03.12.12 |
13.01.14 22.01.15 21.02.15 27.03.15 25.10.15 02.02.15 |
