John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. Thankfully, I was privy to the response and read it earlier because Deputy Denis Naughten tabled the matter in the Dáil under Topical Issues yesterday. He received exactly the same response except this morning my title of Senator was substituted for Deputy. I shall quote one line from the response given to the Deputy: "While several options remain under consideration for the optimal use of the facility, I can say that I am advised that the facility will not be restricted to housing prisoners in that category." The start of the sentence led me to believe that the Minister was suggesting that he was not going to put so-called lifers into the facility, but that is not true. It also suggests that so-called lifers will be housed there and we do not know who else. Towards the end of the response yesterday, the Minister said that "the safety of the public" will be a serious consideration. If that is the case, then I agree with Senator Leyden's call to organise for a deputation of Oireachtas Members for Roscommon to meet the Minister. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, could organise the deputation on our behalf.