Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The individual referred to has been detained since 13 May 2011, following the revocation of her life licence by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. In the 17 months she has been in custody, she has been held both in the secure all male prison in Maghaberry and more recently in Hydebank Prison, which is a mixed prison. The person concerned is currently receiving treatment in a hospital facility under the care of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. In the context of the successful devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Executive, the responsibility for the provision of prisoner health care in Northern Ireland lies with the Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety. This Department, through the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, is required to provide health care arrangements comparable to those available in the community.

In line with long-standing practice in this House, it is not appropriate for me to comment in detail on any person’s medical records or medical condition but, equally, I am keenly aware that genuine concerns have been raised about several aspects of this case in the House on many occasions and I have raised them very frankly with the British Government.

As the record of the House will show, I raised this case with former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Owen Paterson, on several occasions and, more recently, I raised the matter with the new Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers. The Taoiseach also took the opportunity to raise the matter with Secretary of State Villiers when he met her on 2 October. I will continue to raise this case with the British Government and to convey my concerns, which are shared by all sides of this House, to them and to the relevant Northern Ireland authorities.

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