Helen Keogh
Ceist:42 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Justice the settlement terms agreed to end the dispute in Portlaoise jail which included a lengthy hunger protest by certain prisoners. [13802/95]
Written Answers. - Portlaoise Hunger Strike.
Desmond J. O'Malley
Ceist:118 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Justice the settlement terms agreed to end the dispute in Portlaoise jail which included a lengthy hunger protest by certain prisoners. [13798/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 118 together.
It is standard practice to grant a request by persons in prison custody to meet with an official of my Department to discuss any issue of concern to that person. However, no such request can be granted under threat of prison protest action, including hunger strike.
In the case of the hunger strike referred to by Deputies Keogh and O'Malley, the core issue was whether INLA prisoners should, in principle, be able to qualify for compassionate parole concessions, on the basis that they had adhered to a policy of non-violence since the cessation of violence by the Provisional IRA was declared. My Department became aware that it was the wish of the protesting prisoners that discussions about possible concessions for them should take place through the IRSP.
On the evening of 29 August, 1995 discussions took place between officials of my Department and a representative of the IRSP, through an intermediary, to clarify all the issues surrounding this hunger strike. It was made clear, during the course of those discussions, that Department officials would have no difficulty in meeting with spokespersons for the prisoners, whether those spokespersons were inside prison or outside, but that no such meeting could take place until the hunger strike had ended. It was further indicated that a meeting could take place once the Governor of the prison confirmed that the protest had actually come to an end.
The hunger strike ended on 30 August, 1995 and, following confirmation by the Governor of its ending, the way was cleared for discussions between officials of my Department and representatives of the IRSP regarding the peace process and matters concerning Republican Socialist Movement prisoners. Those discussions took place, in line with what had been agreed the previous evening.
The assessment of the outcome of 30 August meeting is nearing completion. I am, however, reasonably confident that the matters of concern to the Government have been sufficiently clarified to allow the RSM prisoners in Portlaoise prison to qualify, in principle, for short-term compassionate parole concessions, in certain circumstances, with each application being judged on its own merits.
Finally, I believe a word of tribute is due to those, including Deputies who managed to bring this potentially very serious situation to a satisfactory conclusion. I am sure that Deputies will have no difficulty in agreeing with me on this.