Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I was deeply concerned to read reports on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture's review of the Irish Prison Service. It cites gross violations of human rights, violence and the ongoing procedure of slopping-out cells. While many Members will never see the inside of a prison, it is clear there has been a mass proliferation of drugs, gang warfare is taking place and the entire Irish Prison Service is in chaos. In 1995, a former Member, T. K. Whitaker, produced a report on penal reform. A couple of months ago, he produced a review of the report entitled, The Whitaker Committee Report 20 years on: Lessons learned, or lessons forgotten? While the previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated his intention to produce a Bill on penal reform by the end of 2006, it appears to have been forgotten. The deputy leader should ask the present Minister to come before the House to outline his plans for penal reform.