I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 173 together.
As the record of the House will show, I raised the matter of prisoners with former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson on several occasions, and more recently have raised this issue with the new Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers. I know that the Taoiseach also took the opportunity to raise the matter with the Secretary of State Villiers when he met her on 2 October.
I have not raised this matter personally with the Prime Minister but I have no doubt that he is aware of our concerns.
I will continue to raise these issues with the British Government, as appropriate, and to convey my concerns to them and to the relevant Northern Ireland authorities.