Vol. 528 No. 2
207 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in the case of a person (details supplied) who is seeking repatriation to an Irish prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29841/00]
The person concerned has applied in the United Kingdom for a transfer to serve the balance of his sentence here under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Officials in my Department were informed yesterday by the United Kingdom authorities that they have just completed collating the necessary documents required in respect of the formal application and that it has now been transmitted to my Department.
As I have explained in the past, the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, 1995, require a three-way consent to enable any transfer to take place i.e. consent from the authorities of both jurisdictions and from the person concerned. The consents can only be given once all parties are fully aware of the legal consequences of a transfer. On receipt of the formal application, my officials will begin the process necessary to ensure that all procedures required under the Convention are completed in good time. Once the required consents have been given, an application must then be made to the High Court for a warrant authorising the transfer of the person concerned and his continued detention here.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to complete this process as quickly as possible assuming the necessary consents are forthcoming.
