asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the opposition to any attempt to opening the military prison in the Curragh Camp for any use other than military use; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Curragh Military Detention Barracks.
10.
(Limerick East): Since the question has been put down to me as Minister for Justice, I assume that the Deputy is referring to the possible use of the Curragh Military Detention Barracks as a prison.
I have no proposal at present to ask for that barracks to be made available in that way, but obviously I could not give any commitment as to what might be the situation at some time in the future.
Is the Minister aware that all previous experience of the use of this prison as a civilian prison and repeated annual reports of the visiting committee indicate that the use of this prison in the manner indicated is a great disruption to civilian and military life in the Curragh and that the small number which could be catered for in the Curragh would not warrant its use? Above all else it is completely unsuitable because of its size and lay-out for this type of use.
(Limerick East): I am not aware that the Curragh has ever previously been used as a civilian prison.
I was a member of the visiting committee when it was used before. I would ask the Minister to reflect on the fact that military prisoners were accommodated on Spike Island when the Curragh was used as this type of prison. Incidentally, the military prisoners never escaped from Spike Island. If the Curragh is to be used again as a civilian prison, where would the Minister hope to accommodate military prisoners?
(Limerick East): The Curragh was not used as a civilian prison. It was used as a military prison which took in civilian prisoners who were in military custody.