Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 February 2014
29. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who have been released from prison on humanitarian grounds, under the provisions of the relevant Acts, since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9467/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide the statistical breakdown, as requested, as this would require the manual examination of tens of thousands of individual prisoner records. This exercise would entail the diversion of a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time which could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. The Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003 provides that sentenced prisoners may be approved temporary release whether it be for a few hours or a more extended period. The Act sets out the circumstances when temporary release may be provided and what matters must be taken into account.
Candidates for temporary release are identified by a number of different means but primarily on the recommendation of the Prison Governor or the therapeutic services in the prisons. The prisoner, their family or their legal representative can also apply for consideration of such a concession. Recommendations are also made to me in relation to long term sentence prisoners by the Parole Board. It is very important to note that it does not necessarily follow that a prisoner will receive temporary release even if the recommendation is to that effect.
Each application for temporary release for whatever reason, including those referred to in your question, is examined on its own merits and the safety of the public is paramount.
Prisoners given reviewable temporary release are typically given one weeks temporary release at which point the prisoner returns to the prison for a fresh decision. Short periods of temporary release are considered for humanitarian reasons for issues such as serious family illness, bereavements and other family issues. All releases are subject to conditions, which in the vast majority of cases include a requirement to report on a daily basis to the offender's Garda Station. Of course, any offender who breaches his or her conditions may be arrested and returned to prison immediately by the Gardaí or maybe refused another period of reviewable temporary release.
