Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Deputy Cuffe will be happy to know that I intend to make provision for an independent prison inspectorship in the new prison rules, which will be published in the coming weeks.

On the question of my role regarding the inspector's reports, having considered them it has been my habit to publish them. The only circumstance that has prevented me from publishing all of his reports was legal difficulties relating to some material contained in one of the reports. I was obliged to seek independent legal advice from the Attorney General and rather than censor the inspector's report. An independent counsel excised the portions of it that were potentially defamatory.

I have received the third report of the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention and I intend to publish it within two weeks. Deputy Cuffe may be surprised by the contents of that report concerning the issue of private involvement in the running of prisons.

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