Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prisoner Transfers.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

744 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in Whitemoor Prison, England, has applied for repatriation to a prison here; and, if so, the timescale involved in reaching a decision. [17394/99]

John Gormley

Ceist:

758 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has lobbied his British counterpart on the question of the repatriation of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18553/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 744 and 758 together.

The person concerned has applied for transfer to serve the balance of his sentence here. However, his formal application has yet to be received from the United Kingdom authorities. Following representations made by my Department, the UK authorities advised that they are in the process of collating the necessary documentation and reports required and when that has been completed they expect to be in a position to forward his application for my consideration.

I should point out that the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons requires that extensive documentation be exchanged between both jurisdictions in order to allow an application to be fully considered. A three-way consent is also required to enable any transfer to take place i.e. from the authorities of both jurisdictions and from the person concerned. On receipt of those consents, assuming they will be forthcoming, an application must then be made to the High Court for a warrant authorising the transfer of the person concerned and his/her continued detention here.

These procedures are so required under the convention and must be adhered to in considering any application. Unfortunately, it is not possible to say now long it will take for this application to be considered. However, I can assure you that every effort will be made to complete this process as quickly as possible.