Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Joyce and Fr. McFlynn for coming in. I met them last year on this issue. I am delighted they could make the presentation today. The imprisonment for public protection sentence was abolished by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 for future offences but it does not apply to people already serving sentences. What is the crime they have been convicted of? How serious is the crime?

I presume the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas has tried to put pressure on the UK Government to change the law and include people currently serving imprisonment for public protection sentences before it was abolished. I heard first-hand about the individual cases and it is heartbreaking for people so far away from home. Father McFlynn referred to someone in Mayo, which is not the same as being in Dublin and flying over or getting the boat over. It is a long distance and it is worrying that people are suffering from depression. Things could be much better if they were allowed to transfer home. There is no comparable legislation here, which is the point made by the Department of Justice and Equality. Perhaps the committee can examine this matter.