Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As I understand it, if a prisoner applied for repatriation before July 2016, the prisoner should have received a letter from the Irish Prison Service advising of the current situation and indicating that the application is on hold. However, if a prisoner applied for repatriation after July 2016, no processing of the application has taken place. The Minister can correct me if I am wrong about that. Given the substantial backlog in applications, will the Minister confirm if there has been a complete suspension of any and all activities in the processing of these applications?

A family has been in contact with me which has a son in prison in Australia. That family is seriously upset and frustrated but they made a very sensible proposal.

It is that, while we are waiting for the legislation to be amended, all necessary steps in respect of paperwork and other tasks to facilitate transfers should continue to be processed as far as possible. This would speed up the transfer of prisoners when the suspension is eventually lifted as many administrative and other tasks that can be done in the meantime will be completed and fully up to date. It would also let the prisoners and their families know they are not being abandoned and there is some hope.

See this speech in context