Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate that the principle underpinning the convention is that once the transfer takes place the home jurisdiction manages the sentencing according to its laws. I refer to how we manage our prisoners here and those transferred back or into this jurisdiction in accordance with Irish law. The policy of the convention, which is based on humanitarian considerations, is to overcome difficulties that might be posed for prisoners serving sentences in foreign jurisdictions. I refer to such difficulties as the absence of contact with relatives and differences in language and culture that may apply from time to time. In this respect, it has long been established Government policy that, whenever possible, prisoners should be permitted to serve their sentences close to their families. I ask the Deputy to appreciate that there are some complex legal and administrative issues here which arose on the decision of the courts. We are working through them and I would be happy to keep the House informed on progress on this issue.

See this speech in context