Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2021
151. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners transferred in and out of this jurisdiction under transfer of prisoners provisions; the number of applications on hand at present that have not yet been adjudicated on by country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27627/21]
View answerAs at 31 December 2020, one hundred and fifty four prisoners have transferred here from abroad and one hundred and ninety four prisoners have transferred out since the Act came into operation on 1 November, 1995.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Irish Prison Service is the competent body for the administration of all applications received under the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The 2020 Annual Report on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons was published in April by my Department in accordance with section 11 of the Act.
The report deals with the operation of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997 which provide a legislative basis for the Council of Europe's 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
I can inform the Deputy that, in the past 3 years, there have been no transfers into this jurisdiction. There have been a total of 9 outward transfers completed.
In 2018 there was a total of 4 transfers, 1 to Holland and 3 to the UK.
In 2019 there was no outward transfer.
In 2020 there was a total of 5 transfers, 1 to Holland and 4 to the UK.
I can further advise the Deputy that as at 26 May, there were 24 incomplete cases, each of which are at different stages of the administrative process.
Of these 24 cases, 12 are inward and 12 are outward transfer requests.
One of the outward cases is approved by all parties and I am aware that my officials are currently awaiting confirmation from the receiving state in respect of the transfer date.
