Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken personally with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the revocation of a licence from a person (details supplied), taking into account that in such cases no detailed information is provided to the person whose licence is revoked of the allegation made against them; if he has expressed concern regarding the closed nature of proceedings and the delay in the parole hearing in this case until May 2017, taking into account the licence was revoked on 10 of March 2016; if he has also raised the humanitarian issues that arise in this case due to the personal circumstances of this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40569/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. My officials in the Belfast Secretariat monitor this and other cases as part of their ongoing work around prison issues generally in Northern Ireland. The particular personal circumstances of the individual in question, including issues relating to access to Maghaberry for family members, has been raised with the Northern Ireland Office.

The person concerned was detained in March 2016 when the release licence granted to him under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement was revoked by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers.

I am informed that as part of the revocation process, the independent Northern Ireland Parole Commissioners carry out a full review of the case. The Parole Commissioners are charged with taking into account the obligations on the State of the European Convention on Human Rights in making their recommendation. This includes assessing the risk to the public should the person remain at liberty. Those whose licence is revoked under this process are provided with a copy of the independent Parole Commissioners recommendation, which sets out the reasons the licence was revoked.

Deputies will be aware of my concern about prison conditions generally in Northern Ireland. I had a useful exchange on this issue with Claire Sugden MLA, the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice when she visited Dublin recently.