Senators will be aware that Amnesty International recently asked for access to our prisons to carry out research. The reason I refused this request is that, having advertised for a project on this issue to be carried out by an independent body and having awarded the contract, I did not then propose to put in place a competing Amnesty International and Irish Penal Reform Trust study to simultaneously traverse the same territory. However, I have indicated to the Irish Penal Reform Trust that I will be quite happy for it to carry out a follow-up study in relation to the racism issue when the report is published and when we are in a position to act upon it.