Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for coming in today. I speak as the co-convener, with Deputy Bacik, of the Oireachtas penal reform group. I thank the witnesses for the opportunity to visit Mountjoy Prison and the Dóchas Centre yesterday. We had a very important tour and I appreciate the engagement of all of the staff. I thank Molly Joyce who came with us yesterday. She supports the Oireachtas penal reform group intellectually, administratively and in every other way practical way. I thank the Irish Penal Reform Trust for that.

I welcome in particular Mr. Graham from Loughan House. This is a very important initiative and I congratulate Senator Ruane on taking it. The witnesses are very welcome and I thank them for joining us today.

I am very concerned about the effect on the rehabilitation programmes of the need to have prison staff constantly working as prison escorts. Who is responsible for that? Who do I point to?