Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 191: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in Britain and Ireland on the repatriation application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36396/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The person referred to by the Deputy has expressed an interest in transferring to a prison in Ireland under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. However, the formal application and necessary supporting documentation has not been received to date from the United Kingdom authorities. My Department has already written to the United Kingdom authorities requesting them to commence processing this individual's application.

The Convention requires extensive documentation to be exchanged between both jurisdictions in order to allow an application to be fully considered. A three way consent is also required to enable any transfer to take place, i.e., from the authorities of both jurisdictions and from the person concerned. On receipt of those consents (assuming they will be forthcoming), an application must then be made to the High Court for a warrant authorising the transfer of the person concerned and his continued detention here.

These procedures are required under the Convention and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, 1995, and must be adhered to in processing each application.