Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

If there is an aspect relevant to Government, the Minister should be in position to notify the Government that a particular report could have national or governmental significance. With the way bureaucracy works, a period of between eight and 12 weeks for the report to be digested and considered at the appropriate levels is reasonable. It is reasonable for the Minister also, if there is something egregious in a report before publication, to be in a position to go to the Prison Service and ask what is going on.

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