22nd October 2003
249. Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the research his Department has conducted into the experience of privatised prisoner transport in other jurisdictions; and his views on the evidence. [24583/03]
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): A study of the prisoner transportation system was carried out in 2000 by a prisoner transportation review group comprising officials from the Irish Prison Service, the Courts Service and the Garda Síochána. As part of the review, the officials visited the United Kingdom prison service to develop a general understanding of the issues involved, but no detailed research was undertaken into the experience of privatised prisoner transport in other jurisdictions.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.