Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach will recall the sense of outrage that existed at the revelation that the Government proposed to grant early release to the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement that such a deal is off the table and that these persons will serve their full time as handed down by the courts. The Taoiseach will also recall that this crime consisted of the brutal slaying of a Garda on duty for his country, which is a capital offence. In this case, it was reduced to a lesser charge due to intimidation. We have all heard the frequent calls for temporary release of those prisoners involved. From media reports of the report of the inspector of prisons, I understand the killers involved occupy a separate area of the prison compound at Castlerea known as the Grove. The information contained in the inspector's report is very clear that these prisoners appear to operate a veto on the integration process among all prisoners in that prison. Can the Taoiseach confirm if this is the case? When the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform responded in July 2004 to a question by Deputy O'Keeffe, he indicated that he had neither disimproved nor improved the regime, but that he had inherited it. What is the position regarding the activities of the McCabe killers in the running of this prison, including the concern that they are operating a veto? The report of the inspector is very clear that the policy of integration in Unit A is not working, as the provisional IRA prisoners are effectively using a veto over the duties assigned to working prisoners in the Grove. This includes objecting to prisoners serving sentences for sex offences or drugs working in the kitchen or on grounds near the houses they occupy. I have already raised the issue of photographs being taken and the sale of goods abroad with the names of these prisoners thereon. Can the Taoiseach explain the relevance of the newspaper reports today?

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