Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The positive message from the Minister's reply is that he acknowledges what other reports, including the Whitaker report and the reports of the Ombudsman for Children, prison chaplains and the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, have highlighted since 1985, namely, that there is an appalling breach of the human rights of young people in St. Patrick's. What is the long-term plan to provide for those under the age of 21 there, of whom there are currently approximately 160, including 14 who are young women? International best practice indicates that those under 21 should not be detained in the same prisons as adults. The need for the immediate publication of reports has been highlighted and there should be no delay in their publication. That is my first point - that reports should be published in a timely way. My other question is whether the reports will go directly to the Oireachtas. There is an acknowledgement of wrongdoing on the part of the personnel in St. Patrick's, but there are also questions to be answered by the Department of Justice and Equality and the Irish Prison Service.

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