Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann,

—noting the decision of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to acquire a farm at Thornton Hall, in County Dublin, for the purpose of constructing a new prison thereon;

—concerned by reports as to:

—the exorbitant costs and fees in connection with the purchase of the lands in question;

—the undue haste and absence of considered examination of this particular location;

—the decision to relocate Mountjoy Prison to a site that is unsuitable in terms of its remoteness and inadequate infrastructure;

—the concerns of the local community and lack of consultation therewith; and

—resolves to request that the Comptroller and Auditor General make a report on all relevant aspects of the said transaction, pursuant to section 7(2) of the Comptroller and Auditor-General Act 1923, as amended by section 21 of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Special Provisions) Act 1998, at the earliest possible date.

With the approval of the House I will share time with my Fine Gael colleague, Deputy Shane McEntee, and with my Labour Party colleague, Deputy Joe Costello.

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