Dr. Susan Finnerty:

The Deputy is right. We inspect approved centres and produce reports after our visits. Those reports are published. We do not have any jurisdiction in prisons. That is the function of the Inspector of Prisons who does inspections with his or her team and produces reports. The decision to publish the reports rests with the Minister for Justice. I have no further information on that.

The extent of mental illness in prisons came to my attention and that of the previous Inspector of Prisons. Through her assistance, we did visit the prisons. I was able to go with her as part of her inspection team and I was able to write the report on circumstances in the criminal justice system for people with mental illness. However, the Mental Health Commission does not have any jurisdiction in the prisons. That is the Inspector of Prisons.