Gay Mitchell
Ceist:367 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which he will mark prisoners week from 8 to 14 November 1998. [22573/98]
Written Answers. - Prisoners Week.
Prisoners Week was launched in Canada over a decade ago by various religious groups. The objective is to raise awareness of wider issues surrounding imprisonment. The focus of Prisoners Week is holistic and embraces victims, prisoners, prison officers, their families and the community. There is an emphasis on healing the hurt done rather than on vengeance or retribution. It is also known as Restorative Justice Week and is marked throughout the world to a greater or lesser extent.
In Ireland it is organised by a group comprising members of prison chaplains, Pax Christi, Amnesty International, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas and others. The group have put in place a three year project to bring greater awareness of this issue. At present they are in year one of this project which involved the supply of basic resource material to parishes-schools in Dublin. In 1999 a comprehensive resource pack will be prepared for parishes, primary and secondary schools, youth clubs and resource centres in the Dublin area and in 2000 it is planned to ensure that Prisoners Sunday and Restorative Justice Week will be marked throughout the country.
My Department will co-operate with these groups as best it can and, where possible, assist them.