Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Amendments Nos. 24 to 26, inclusive, are technical. The reference in the section, as drafted, is to the "Prison Service" as an organisation. This is a drafting oversight as the Prison Service is not an identifiable legal person who can issue directions. The amendments clarify that reference to the "Prison Service" is to the director general of the Irish Prison Service, to whom certain functions have and may be assigned by the Minister under law. The word "Irish" has been inserted because the full title of the organisation is the "Irish Prison Service" and it is normally referred to as such.