Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Depending on what happens, flowing hopefully from the consent the House gives under the terms of the resolution before us, those negotiations can be finalised with the preferred bidder.

I have been as frank as I can concerning the Lusk issue. The preferred location for under-18 male prisoners would be in this facility but if it is not up and running we will be able to use the modular sections of the proposed Thornton prison, which would be up and running sooner, if that works out, than the implementation of the Lusk improvements.

As regards Dóchas, I have said many times that it makes no sense to retain a prison on a site in Mountjoy which is inadequate——

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