Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 June 2012
22 Deputy Luke “Ming” Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the relatives of a person (details supplied) have not been informed or consulted regarding a transfer to the Czech Republic of a prisoner; his views on whether it is correct to allow such a transfer when only four years of a life sentence has been served; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29548/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 1983 Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons provides a mechanism whereby prisoners can be repatriated to their home state in order to serve prison sentences they have incurred abroad. The Convention is provided for in legislation in this State by virtue of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997, and the process is administered by my Department. In the period 1995 to 2011 approximately 140 Irish citizens were transferred to Ireland from abroad to serve their sentence here and a similar number of foreign prisoners were returned to their home country abroad to serve their sentence there. The Convention does not envisage the serving of any minimum term in the sentencing country before a prisoner is eligible for transfer.
In this particular case, I had approved the transfer of the person referred to in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. However, on becoming aware of the family's concerns, I decided to defer the transfer and subsequently met with the family. I am giving careful consideration to their views and will make my decision in due course.
As regards the procedures in place for informing families of victims, or victims themselves, the position is that when victims of crime request, the Prison Service Victim Liaison Officer will enter into direct contact with them, on an ongoing basis, to inform them of significant developments in the management of the perpetrator's sentence as well as any impending release. The Victim Liaison Officer will also provide victims with general information on the prison system such as the prison regime, remission on sentences and the operation of the Parole Board. It is important to note that this is a voluntary service. It is for the victim, or an immediate family member in the case of a person who has died as a result of a crime, to choose if they wish to obtain information about a prisoner. In this particular case, the family had not opted into the scheme. However, as I indicated to them, I am going to make changes to the prison victim liaison scheme to provide for a more proactive system.
