Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that the pre-action protocols will be completed by the date upon which the Dáil rises for the summer, 13 July. In respect of the mental health and well-being of people in prison, I acknowledge progress in a range of Departments. People with mental illness coming in contact with the criminal justice system is an issue that involves more than just the Prison Service. I acknowledge the importance of the engagement on the part of the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and others involved in an interdepartmental group. I stress the importance of ensuring mental health and well-being are a priority when persons with mental health issues come in contact with the criminal justice system or are given prison sentences. In that regard, I acknowledge the dedicated wings, namely the D2 wing in Cloverhill Prison and the high-support unit in Mountjoy Prison, which are working towards that.

We have been engaging with GSOC over the few weeks since the business plan was delivered to my Department. A formal business plan is essential. A further submission was received from GSOC yesterday on resources. We are now also engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as well as the commission. As I said earlier in the year, I am positively disposed to the provision of resources to the commission that will allow it to do its job. We are making progress on that with the commission and actively engaging with it. I regard as entirely unsatisfactory any public commentary that might suggest that GSOC is prohibited from doing its work, or restricted from doing some of its work, because of resources. I am anxious to ensure there sufficient resources are available.

As far as legislation is concerned, work has been done on that. I wish to return to Deputy O'Callaghan's earlier observation on the forthcoming report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which is important. I expect that consideration will be given to the matter of oversight, as that is included in the commission's terms of reference. I expect there will be recommendations on changes and management of oversight. I do not want to bring forward legislation now that will cut across the report, but we will have the report by mid-September.