Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

This is tabled on the advice of the Attorney General. The amendment provides a statutory basis for the entry to a prison of members of the Garda Síochána so that they can carry out their duties. While nothing in law prevents gardaí from so doing and they already enter prisons, say, to identify a suspect, the view of the Attorney General is it would be beneficial to include a specific provision in primary legislation for that purpose.