Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms McCabe for her presentation. A group of Senators and Deputies is very concerned with regard to the human rights of certain prisoners in Maghaberry Prison. The group has made two visits to the facility. I was involved in the most recent of these, which took place just before Christmas. We met the authorities at the prison, the prisoners themselves and various groups. We then met the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice, Mr. David Ford, MLA, and several other MLAs at Stormont. We have since made a request to meet the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, MP.

I accept that Ms McCabe cannot discuss particular prisoners. However, I am wondering about her involvement in this matter. Serious concerns have arisen with regard to the fact that some people have been held, without charge, in Maghaberry Prison for some time. There are also concerns about the dirty protest which took place at the prison over a period of almost two years. A number of prisoners involved in that protest developed serious health problems. How is it possible that someone from the prison was brought to a hospital to have a heart procedure and was then returned there while the dirty protest was ongoing?

On strip searches, the authorities at Maghaberry informed us that a new machine is being trialled at other prisons. When will such a machine be introduced at Maghaberry, where there was a serious problem in respect of strip searches? In my opinion, such searches are an abuse of human rights. During our visit, I raised the issue of one prisoner, who is now in hospital, in the context of her lack of access to fresh air. I was informed that she could have been incarcerated in one of the other prisons but these would also have been unsuitable in the context of her health needs. Some of the health needs of the prisoners are Maghaberry are just not being addressed.

My final question relates to Ms McCabe's relationship with the parole commissioners and the Minister. I have never come across a more obvious example of the ball being kicked from one authority to another because nobody seems to want to assume responsibility for these matters. We are all concerned about the preservation of the Good Friday Agreement, the peace treaties, etc., but I do not believe anybody realises the significance of these human rights issues. I stress the term "human rights issues" because I am not referring to the political views of the people in question. What is happening could really undermine the great work that has been done in the past. Perhaps Ms McCabe will outline her views on that matter.