Mr. Mickey Brady:

The remit of the committee is to monitor the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Senator Ó Donnghaile has alluded to the fact the prison situation is a fundamental human rights issue in regard to the Good Friday Agreement. Can we not have a proposal that we write to the Minister for Justice and Equality outlining our concerns, particularly from what we have heard today? We were all aware of it, but the witnesses have encapsulated it very well for all of us. We should also possibly arrange a meeting with the Secretary of State and the Minister for Justice and Equality. The point was well made that they tend to play off one another. Certainly in meetings I have had in the past with David Ford we got the impression the tail was very much wagging the dog. For those of us who have not been in Maghaberry, a visit should be arranged for the committee as a whole. We have heard so much but we should actually see the conditions as outlined by our three witnesses today. It is very important that the issue be addressed.