I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.
I would refer the Deputy to my detailed replies in this matter to written questions numbers 424, 427, 435 and 441 of 26 November 2002, oral questions numbers 52 and 58 on 27 November 2002 and written questions numbers 222 and 223 also on 27 November 2002. The fact that Amnesty International and the Irish Penal Reform Trust were not facilitated with the proposed racism project, which was a decision taken entirely on its own merits, has no implication for either organisation in their being afforded access to prisons and I reject the suggestion that the decision in this case amounts to exclusion of Amnesty International from visits to Irish prisons or exclusion from any future research or other project involving prisoners.