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

I was part of a group of five Members of the Dáil who visited Maghaberry Prison last Monday. I would say the common feeling among us as we came out of the prison was one of depression. The visit was one of quite a number we have made. While I understand the frustration of ex-prisoners, which has been mentioned, the group in question is looking at the difficulties and injustices for current prisoners. We know the whole licence area is extremely difficult for some ex-prisoners because they can be taken in at a moment's notice. As we have seen in some cases, closed evidence can be used to keep them in jail for a number of years. Almost 20 years on, it is hard to believe there are live issues regarding ex-prisoners. We saw at Maghaberry Prison that issues are being stored up for the future.

As I have said, it was extremely depressing to come out of the prison on Monday. We have had many discussions with various groups. We meet loyalist and republican prisoners, all of whom are in the dissident category. They tell us there is no real attempt to engage with the issues. The same thing applies to the issues the ex-prisoners are talking about. We know that the media, which was mentioned by one of the witnesses, has absolutely no interest in this. As far as both Governments are concerned, this is off the agenda and everything has been done and dusted. It is extremely difficult to make progress with what the witnesses are talking about and what we have been looking at. How much collaboration is there between both of the groups represented at this meeting? Have they tried to present a unified and united front on these issues? It is hard to believe the British authorities cannot provide accurate figures for the number of people who have been in jail. That is almost incredible. I will conclude by asking a specific question about employment. If the witnesses had to draw up a list of three priority areas, where would the employment of ex-prisoners come on that list?