Vol. 530 No. 1
33 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will bring forward legislation to provide for a statutory parole board; and if he will introduce interim measures to provide for an independent and structured par ole system pending the enactment of such legislation. [3256/01]
Draft provisions for a statutory parole board are being prepared in the context of the prisons Bill which is under preparation in my Department. I also recently announced my intention to establish a parole board on an administrative basis in the near future pending statutory provision in the prisons Bill.
It has been suggested that there would be advantage in allowing the non-statutory parole board to gain experience before putting it on a statutory basis and I can see merit in this. This may have the effect of separating out the provisions dealing with the parole board from the rest of the prisons Bill. This would have the double advantage of enabling the legislation dealing with the parole board to reflect the experience gained while allowing the prisons Bill to go ahead much earlier than would otherwise be possible. I am still reflecting on this suggestion but my inclination at present is to have two separate Bills.
When does the Minister propose to establish the parole board on an interim basis?
I intend to establish the parole board on an interim basis in the immediate future. Obviously the legislation will take some time. When I say "immediate future" I mean the immediate future, not the long-term future.
Does the Minister mean the middle future? It is as clear as mud.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
