Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 7

Written Answers. - Republican Prisoners.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

45 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the question of the treatment of Irish Republican prisoners in British jails during the bilateral discussions with the British Prime Minister; and, if not, whether he will raise this issue at an early date. [22722/96]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

58 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has raised directly with the British Prime Minister the conditions under which politically motivated prisoners are being held in Britain; if so, when he raised this issue; the response, if any, he received in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23748/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 45 and 58 together.

I regularly raise prison issues with British Ministers within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. I confirm that these issues were again raised by me at the most recent meeting of the Conference on 20 November 1996. At this meeting I raised on humanitarian grounds the conditions in which the republican prisoners are being held in prison in Britain. The Irish Embassy in London also closely monitors the situation of republican prisoners and raises humanitarian issues relating to individual prisoners with the British authorities on an ongoing basis. It assists in visits to the republican prisoners by Members of the Oireachtas. Consular visits are also made to the prisoners and an official of the Embassy most recently paid a consular visit to all the relevant prisons in the period 18-20 November. The Embassy subsequently met the British Home Office and Prison Service for a full discussion of issues relating to the conditions and treatment of the republican prisoners in Britain which were raised by Members of the Oireachtas and the prisoners themselves. Since then a further consular visit has been made to a female remand prisoner on 4 December 1996 and the Embassy has made representations to the British authorities regarding her medical needs.

In all our contacts with the British authorities, the humanitarian difficulties for the prisoners and their families have been highlighted. As the Deputies are aware, many republican prisoners, including most of the prisoners on remand, are classified as exceptional risk category A. These prisoners are subject to a system of closed visits and endure other poor conditions of detention.

The British authorities have responded that the conditions and treatment of republican prisoners, including those on remand, result from the category under which they are held. They have stated that these prisoners' categorisation is periodically reviewed.

In the Government's view, many of the difficulties surrounding the treatment of the republican prisoners in Britain could be overcome by implementation of the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons in line with its humanitarian objectives. I am aware that many of the republican prisoners have applied for transfer to this jurisdiction under the Convention of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. A meeting between the relevant British and Irish officials to review the operation of the Convention between the two countries is to be held shortly. I would reiterate once again that the Government stands ready to receive all those republican prisoners wishing to transfer to prison in this jurisdiction under the Convention.

The Government shares the concerns which have been expressed by Deputies of all parties about humanitarian aspects of the treatment of republican prisoners in Britain. I assure the Deputy that matters relating to the republican prisoners held in prison in Britain will continue to be raised with the British authorities through the appropriate channels at every level.