Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

I support the motion, which asks the Comptroller and Auditor General to review and report to the Oireachtas on the procedure concerning the purchase of the land in question. I listened to Deputy Hoctor commend the Minister for his work in the area of justice. I would remind her of the 2,000 gardaí we were to have under the programme for Government, the absence of community gardaí in many towns and villages and the lack of CCTV installations around the country. I had to smile at her suggestion that the advice of residents should be listened to in these matters in light of the Ministers' address of last April, when he said:

I intend to develop a campus in north county Dublin for the purpose and I intend not to be deflected by people who produce notions of fairy ring forts in north county Dublin or architectural details of interest in city centre Dublin. I will not be deflected by all this guff.

These are hardly the remarks of a man who will consult residents openly and fairly. Last night, the Minister rounded on RTE and everyone else within the firing line.

The issue is not whether there should be a new prison. Clearly there should because we cannot continue the current situation in Mountjoy Prison. However issues arise in terms of accessibility for prisoners and their families, lack of infrastructure, costs and the procedures that were followed. Thornton Hall was not on the first list of 31 bids. It came into play late in the day and was agreed by means of a short process. The matter requires scrutiny and the Comptroller and Auditor General must scrutinise it. It is in everybody's interest that the report be produced.

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