Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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64. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the ongoing incarceration of a person (details supplied) who had their licence revoked in March 2016 but has not received due process or opportunity to answer charges against them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53233/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and my officials in the Belfast Secretariat monitor this and other cases as part of their ongoing work on prison issues generally in Northern Ireland.

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was detained in March 2016 when the release licence granted to him under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement was revoked by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers. The case has been raised with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) by my officials. It also has also been the subject of representations to the NIO by various public representatives in Northern Ireland.

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are provided with a copy of the independent Parole Commissioners recommendation, which sets out the reasons the licence was revoked.

I understand that a Parole Commissioners hearing was held in June and made a decision to uphold the revocation of this person’s license.

A senior official from the Secretariat visited the individual in question in Maghaberry prison in July, at his request and we are aware of his concerns. My officials will continue to actively monitor the case.