Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is in everybody's interest to advance matters. I invite the Deputy to agree with me that the recommendations made in the Stocktake report represent the way forward. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has accepted the recommendation made in the report that forum meetings take place at least once every two months with an agreed agenda. If there is an agreed agenda, the types of issue or individual grievance raised by the Deputy can best be addressed.

In December 2014 Mr. Tom Miller was nominated as chairman of the prison forum. However, this nomination was not acceptable to republican prisoners. Following a process of consultation, prisoners and prison management have agreed to accept a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross to chair the forum. Nobody could contest the independence of an individual of that status. The decision of the individual to take on the chairmanship of the forum was not taken lightly. It followed a period of intense organisational reflection, including on how best to maintain the integrity and independence of the organisation while acting as chairman. It is important that everybody work together.

I welcome the contribution of the Deputy but believe it is important that those concerned be in a position to move forward with the forum, the agenda items, the format of the agenda and the specific issues agreed in advance by both prisoners and prison management in order to deal with many of the grievances that persist.

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