Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and I will ask my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to take on board his concern regarding attacks on members of the gay community and pursue the matter with his officials.

The Deputy referred to a three-year crisis in the prison system. There has been no three-year crisis in the Prison Service. Indeed, since taking office, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, has overseen significant positive developments in it. New prison accommodation has been completed in Limerick and work is under way at Portlaoise. Despite Deputy Costello's objection, the Minister is going ahead with his project to replace Mountjoy Prison with a new and modern prison complex in north County Dublin. Deputy Costello's preference to have the current Mountjoy Prison refurbished would cost in the region of €418 million.

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