Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It is worthwhile that we should keep an eye on how it does its business. Members from all sides of the House — the wisdom is not just on this side — have raised on several occasions in recent weeks the issue of the huge level of crime. I have just checked the situation. Is the House aware that there have been 200 early releases from our prisons in the first two weeks of last month and of the impact that is having? There are 500 people at large. Apparently, the A wing of Mountjoy Prison has been re-opened despite being closed 18 months ago because it was substandard. A tin of paint or an ounce of Polyfilla has not been applied to it in the meantime; it has simply been re-opened. Prisoners are on mattresses in Castlerea. This is all because the Minister and his Department cannot sort out what is going on. Perhaps these issues relate to prisoners' rights and I will leave them to one side.

The man murdered last week in Fatima Mansions was let out after serving just four years of a ten year sentence. That is absolutely appalling, and that should be said by all sides. One of those involved in the alleged rape in Ennis has been released from Limerick Prison to make space for the prisoners being taken from Spike Island. What is going on is appalling and we will pay a price for it with people being raped and murdered. This is all because the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform cannot do its business, run its operations or deal with industrial relations. It is time we told the Minister to come to the House to account for his Department and to tell us what exactly is going on in our prisons at present, how we can be sure that people are safe on the streets and the consequences and impact of his Department's inefficiency and incapacity to deal with the problems with which it is charged. It is an appalling situation and the Minister should come to the House to explain himself.