Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Finucane, the acting Leader of the Opposition, raised the issue of the closing or mothballing of some prisons. He asked for clarification of the situation, particularly regarding St. Patrick's Institution, to where many prisoners have been transferred, and the scaling down of Shanganagh Castle and other places, including Limerick Prison. The Senator is in effect asking for a debate on the policy regarding prison accommodation arising from the recent industrial relations matter. I have spoken at length this morning to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell. He is agreeable to come to the House for a debate on the issues of juvenile crime and prison places. I will inform the House in that regard.

Senator O'Toole concurred with that request and raised the issue of Friday's sitting. I wish to make it clear to the House that I was very alarmed and upset that I heard on the radio before my office was informed that this Bill was not now going through the other House because of other matters which had arisen in the Bill and which heretofore were unnoticed. I conveyed my opinion to the Minister, Deputy McDowell, this morning. He gave me a very good hearing for 15 minutes on the telephone. I have no beef with him because he listened to me. However, I heard about it on the radio before my office was informed. I am not acting in a grand manner when I refer to "my office"; it consists of myself and one other person——