Having listened to the Minister, I am sure the Prison Officers Association will say, "Yes, Minister".
I raise a serious matter here tonight. In the Ballinspittle area of County Cork Mr. Frank Collins has been on hunger strike since 10 September, 63 days. He was on hunger strikes previously, the longest of which lasted 33 days. He now consumes nothing other than Diet 7-Up and he is determined this time to see it through to the end.
A considerable series of offences act as a background to this case. Undoubtedly, it is difficult to deal with this man in many ways. All the offences, as far as I can gather, are road traffic type offences which were dealt with in one form or another. Fines were mitigated eventually to €500. It is not really a matter of great seriousness in terms of the offences involved which has brought about this action. The offences are not serious in comparison with the danger of a man dying.
The man feels aggrieved that his complaints, particularly regarding Garda treatment and harassment allegations he made, have not been dealt with seriously or in a satisfactory manner by the Garda Complaints Board. He is also particularly aggrieved that an investigation of incest was instigated against him. He has the following obsession at this point in time, that he has not received justice, no proper investigation took place, he is being harassed by the Garda, and he requires something substantial before he can come off the hunger strike.
It seems that one solution would be that the Minister would intervene in the matter. That would be the ideal solution. Failing that, it seems he is determined to remain on hunger strike unless there is some commitment to an independent inquiry. I am sure the format that might take could be subject to some negotiation. His good friend, Mr. Edmund Butler, has been in considerable communication with various Ministers and Departments, both locally in the Cork area and, over the period of time, with the Minister – no doubt Mr. Butler would be a possible broker in this regard. Something would be required, however, in the present stalemate to avoid a tragedy, which could very well be the outcome of this hunger strike.
I hope the Minister has some positive response on which we could build. It might be possible to bring some officer of the court into the picture, and there could be some acknowledgement by the Minister that the case would be looked at afresh and that some level of inquiry could be put in place. That could be communicated to the man, in consultation with his friend or friends, and we could try to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible.