asked the Minister for Justice the names and addresses of the members of the visiting committee of Mountjoy prison.
36.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Visiting Committees.
35.
asked the Minister for Justice the names and addresses of the members of the visiting committee of Limerick prison.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.
Section 2 of the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act, 1925 provides that a visiting committee of not less than six and not more than 12 responsible persons shall be appointed for each prison to carry out duties prescribed under the Act and Statutory Rules. These duties include the hearing of prisoners' complaints, making reports of any abuses and matters of that kind.
The visiting committee perform public services in an unpaid capacity. It would leave the members open to annoyance from letter-writers and callers if their names and addresses were published generally. On that account, I would prefer not to publish identifying particulars but I am arranging to let the Deputy—and any other Deputy who is interested—have the information.
I think these names have been given in the House before. Could the Minister say what circumstances have arisen——
I will furnish them to the Deputy.
This information has been given in the House before. The House has a duty to ensure that there is no further encroachment on its liberties. The information has been given before and there are no reasons why it should not be given now.
If the Deputy puts down another question, I will deal with it.
With all due respect to the Minister, why is he not giving the information today?
I have not got it today. I am only deferring to normal practice when I say to the Deputy that I can give him the information in the form of a letter.
Will the Minister say why when he was asked for the information, he did not give it here? He is now saying, when he is under pressure, that he will give it next week if I put down a question.
As I said, I am anxious to protect the work of the visiting committees.
The Minister has not justified this change of policy, nor has he justified this further effort on the part of bureaucracy to prevent information being given in this House.