Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality no one has drawn my attention to there being major difficulties with regard to call-out times in Cork. In circumstances in which a manual system is still operating, there is a difficulty in accessing the information the Deputy is seeking. If such information were electronically maintained, it would and should be readily available.

The transport of prisoners is a major security issue. We cannot have untrained civilians driving prisoners to and from courts. On a regular basis prisoners coming from the prisons to the courts may be constrained in a particular way and there are particular difficulties. It is not unusual that the Garda is involved in the transport of prisoners. However, in the context of using members of the Garda Síochána to the best advantage to the benefit of the public and utilising the expert training they have received, I know the Garda Commissioner is examining all the various functions gardaí perform to see to what extent they may be civilian-based.

I certainly do not envisage untrained civilians driving prisoners to the courts or using handcuffs. That would be not only inappropriate but dangerous and it is not a policy I would favour.

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