Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Mar 2000

Vol. 517 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prisoner Transfers.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

176 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will arrange with the British Home Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, MP, for the transfer of a person (details supplied) to serve his sentence in an Irish prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9291/00]

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

The person concerned has applied for a transfer to serve the balance of his sentence here under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. 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 both the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, 1995 require 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 required under the convention and must be adhered to in processing each application. Unfortunately, it is not possible to say how long it will take for this application to be considered. However, I assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to complete this process as quickly as possible.