asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the special prison conditions applicable to persons convicted under the Offences Against the State Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Special Prison Conditions.
80.
(Cavan): There are no special conditions applicable to persons convicted under the Offences Against the State Acts.
Is the Minister aware that for more than eight months a number of those persons who were convicted under this deplorable piece of legislation have been incommunicado so far as their relatives and friends are concerned? Is he aware also that there have been protestations in this regard during those eight months and that one of the features to which the persons concerned are opposed totally—something which obtains in relation to them but which does not apply either in Crumlin Road or in Long Kesh—is that a "Red Cap" remains beside them when they are being visited by relatives and friends? Can the Minister say if anything can be done in this regard? So far as I am aware, the grievances of those persons have been reduced to this one problem.
(Cavan): The question asks whether the Minister will make a statement on the special prison conditions applicable to persons convicted under the Offences Against the State Act. The information I have been given is that there are no such special conditions applicable to this class of prisoner.
In fairness to the Minister, I would ask him to request his colleague, the Minister for Justice, to endeavour to end the situation of which I have complained, not on my behalf but on behalf of those who are still inside the prison?
(Cavan): If I were to agree to do as the Deputy asks, I would be admitting that some sort of special condition applies to the type of prisoner he is talking of, whereas the information I have sets out clearly that there is no such special condition. So far as I am aware, and so far as the Minister is aware, there is no squabble at the moment.
In legal parlance, which the Minister understands, I ask that, without prejudice, he would convey to the Minister for Justice what I have said, which obviously is at variance with the information the Minister has given me and, if there is a discrepancy in the direction I suggest, that the Minister would take some action to remedy the situation.
(Cavan): All that the Deputy has said and the assertions he has made will be brought to the notice of the Minister.
Are there any special conditions envisaged for these people?
(Cavan): Not so far as I am aware.