Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2016
196. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland seeking the release of a person (details supplied) who has been incarcerated without trial since March 2016 on foot of having a licence revoked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38236/16]
View answerI am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and my officials in the Belfast Secretariat monitor this and other cases as part of their ongoing work around prison issues generally in Northern Ireland.
It has been raised by them with the Northern Ireland Office. The person concerned was detained in March 2016 when the release licence granted to him under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement was revoked by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers.
I am informed that as part of the revocation process, the independent Northern Ireland Parole Commissioners carry out a full review of the case. The Parole Commissioners are charged with taking into account the obligations on the State of the European Convention on Human Rights in making their recommendation. This includes assessing the risk to the public should the person remain at liberty. Those whose licence is revoked under this process are provided with a copy of the independent Parole Commissioners recommendation, which sets out the reasons the licence was revoked.
