Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the person or bodies he is engaging with on the ongoing issues of prisoners in Maghaberry Prison, Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53158/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Conditions in the prison form part of my regular discussions with political interlocutors in Northern Ireland, including the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who has certain responsibilities around the separated regime at the prison.

Deputies will be aware of my ongoing concerns about conditions in Maghaberry Prison. My officials at the Belfast Secretariat maintain regular contact with the Northern Ireland Office on this issue, as well as with the NI Department of Justice, the NI Prisoner Ombudsman, the Criminal Justice Inspectorate, the International Committee of the Red Cross’s Belfast office, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the members of the Stocktake group, and other relevant agencies.

Primary responsibility for the conditions in Maghaberry rests with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. The continued absence of a functioning Executive - and Minister for Justice - is a source of ongoing concern here. In that regard, the Government is continuing to work closely with the British Government to support the effective operation of the NI Executive and all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.