Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I move amendmentNo. 51:

In page 31, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:

"42.—The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform shall make the necessary provisions for the closure of St. Patrick's Institution.".

This is taking the opportunity for the Prisons Bill to deal with St. Patrick's Institution. We have heard about the need for its closure over the years and the mechanism indicated in this amendment will ensure it is closed. It should have been closed many years ago. Those of us who visited the prison as delegates from the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights — we visited Mountjoy and the Dóchas Centre as well — were aware of the problems at that stage and that was a number of years ago. The situation has not got any better. At this stage the Minister needs to make provision for its closure. I am asking that this amendment be included in the Bill so it happens forthwith.

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