Vol. 473 No. 1
69 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representation to the British authorities to arrange for an open visit for a person (details supplied) in County Louth to visit their son who is in a British prison. [24583/96]
I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers.
The system of closed visits, which has been in operation since 1995 for Republican prisoners classified as exceptional risk, has been raised with the British authorities on many occasions, both within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Conference and through the Irish Embassy in London. The Government has consistently taken the view that these prisoners should be permitted open visits, especially for family members and legal representatives. Concern has been expressed about the humanitarian difficulties caused for these prisoners as a result of the closed visits rule, particularly in relation to family contact.
The particular individual to which the Deputy refers was among a number of prisoners visited in a consular capacity by an officer of the Embassy in London between 18-20 November. On my instructions, the concerns expressed by these prisoners about the closed visits policy were raised again by Embassy officials during a recent meeting with the relevant British authorities. I also raised the conditions of Republican prisoners classified as exceptional risk, including those prisoners on remand who are subject to closed visits, during the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference held in Belfast on 20 November 1996.
In response, the British authorities have stated that the application of the policy of closed visits is a function of these prisoners' categorisation as exceptional risk prisoners and that these prisoners' categorisation is periodically reviewed. They have further stated that a request for an open visit to a prisoner classified as exceptional risk should be made through the Governor of the relevant prison. Each request is considered on its own merits. An open visit is permitted only in exceptional circumstances which must be outlined in the request.
I assure you that we will continue to pursue this matter with the British authorities in the period ahead.
