Parliamentary Question: Prison Visiting Committees

25th March 2003

553. Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the representations which have been made to him by Members of the Oireachtas or of local authorities regarding appointments to the prison visiting committees. [7906/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): As I previously explained to the House, a visiting committee is appointed to each prison under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 and Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925.

Members of prison visiting committees are appointed for a term not exceeding three years. At that point they may be either re-appointed for a further term or are replaced by new members.

Appointments to the visiting committees are made by me on foot of representations, usually either by individuals nominating themselves or from local representatives nominating a constituent.
There are no specific criteria used in selecting individuals for appointment. The composition of each committee is drawn from a wide spectrum to ensure that the needs of prisoners are understood and met. This is the long standing practice used by successive Ministers in appointing members to the prisons visiting committees.

A total of 99 written representations have been made to me to date by Members of the Oireachtas and elected representatives of local authorities in respect of appointments to prison visiting committees since I became Minister in June 2002.