Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I would like to speak about a decision taken by the Government this morning. I refer to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's announcement that he intends to close two prisons, to place the management of two other prisons in a body outside the prisons service and, in effect, to privatise the prisons escort service. I am not convinced that a case can be made for this proposal from an economic or a rehabilitation point of view. The Minister, Deputy McDowell, is engaging in a dereliction of his duty. His proposals do not indicate who will run the two prisons that will be managed outside the Prison Service. Despite the fact that he has been in office for 18 months, there have been no real reforms in respect of the Garda Síochána or the Prisons Service. There is a real threat of industrial action in the Prisons Service as a result of this announcement. I wonder if the Leader can give us her views on this matter. Can she organise a debate? The Minister should come to the House to spell out quite clearly his proposals and how he intends to follow them through.

Comments made last week by two Ministers went largely unnoticed in some quarters. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, informed us that there is no need for an extra 2,000 gardaí. This statement contrasts with his party's election manifesto of last year. The Minister for Health and Children said the proposal in the programme for Government to cut waiting lists by the middle of next year is no longer achievable.