Prisoner Transfers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 June 2014

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

Questions (431)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

431. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an Irish citizen (details supplied) is presently incarcerated in Beateberg prison, Stockholm, has applied to be transferred to prison in Ireland and the procedure has already been initiated; the length of time this procedure will take; if same will be expedited in view of the fact that the person's imprisonment is due to terminate at the end of the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24271/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that an application by a prisoner (details supplied) for a transfer to a prison in this jurisdiction, under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, was received in May 2014. Requests for the reports necessary to make a decision on the application were subsequently issued and upon receipt of same, the application will be processed in the normal manner.

Each case is judged on its individual merits and cases are processed as quickly as possible. Cases can take anywhere between 3 months and 2 years to be completed and can take even longer in some extreme cases. Some of the reasons for delays include; incomplete documentation which has to be returned to the requestor or their legal representatives, the relevant requested documentation not submitted with the original request which is a common occurrence, for example birth certificate or copy of passport. Delays can also take place in the sending jurisdiction which are out of my Department's control.