Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
383. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware that an Irish citizen (details supplied) is currently incarcerated in Madrid in Spain, that the person has applied to be transferred to a prison in Ireland and that the procedure has already been initiated; the length of time this will take; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12966/15]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that I have been advised that an application for repatriation from the individual in question, who is currently detained in Madrid, has been received by officials of the Irish Prison Service and is being dealt with accordingly. It is not possible the Irish Prison Service to comment on how long any such application will take to complete.
The individual will be kept informed directly of any developments in his case as they arise.
The Deputy should be aware however that the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons does not confer an automatic right for any prisoner to be transferred nor does it confer an obligation on any state to comply with a transfer request.
