Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to express my deep concern and alarm regarding the fact that two prison officers were seriously injured yesterday when accompanying a prisoner - apparently he is a diabetic - to hospital. There are serious questions to be asked in respect of this matter. How did the criminal in question, who escaped and who some years ago was serving 22 life sentences in England before absconding, arrive in Ireland in the first instance? Where did he get the knife he used in his escape? Did he bring it with him from the prison? If the answer is in the affirmative, then serious questions arise. How is it that Irish taxpayers are paying for this man to be imprisoned in this jurisdiction? I would be quite happy if he were returned to Britain serve his life sentences at Her Majesty's pleasure. Why was an armed garda not tasked with accompanying this very dangerous prisoner to hospital? Two prisoner officers were obliged to undergo surgery after he attacked them and another was seriously traumatised. What would be the position if a member of staff at the hospital had been badly injured? That could easily have happened. There are major questions to be asked about how this particular prisoner managed to escape and why no armed protection was provided for the prison officers who accompanied him to hospital. I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that the Minister for Justice and Equality should come before the House to make a statement on this matter.For logistical reasons and because the prisoner is still at large, there are the operational difficulties in this regard, but she could make a statement to assuage the fears in this House and among the public. There is deep concern, not alone throughout Dublin but throughout the country, that such a dangerous criminal is at large.

It may not be facilitated in the other House, but I also ask the Leader whether the Assaults on Emergency Workers Bill 2012, which was geared at protecting prison officers, firemen, etc., and which was introduced in the other House by Deputy Niall Collins, could be looked at again by the Government. The Bill included measures to protect prison officers, firemen and front-line service staff. It is an important issue. It is so urgent that the Minister should come in here today, even for 30 minutes, to make a statement on this incident.