Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an application has been received from a person (details supplied) for a transfer to a prison in this State; the current status of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50542/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service, who are the competent body for the administration of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts, that an application made on behalf of the person referred to is under consideration.

My officials have begun processing the application in accordance with the provisions of the Acts. The Deputy will appreciate that applications of this nature are complex and require legal advice, but I can advise the Deputy that all applications are progressed as quickly as is possible. Furthermore, each application received is dealt with on it's own merits.

All such requests are decided upon following the collation of a number of reports from various agencies setting out the consequences of such a transfer. The consent of all three parties in the process is required prior to any transfer, i.e. the sentencing state, the receiving state and the sentenced person.

The Deputy should be aware that the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons does not confer an automatic right on any prisoner to be transferred nor does it confer an obligation on any state to comply with a transfer request. However, I have been assured that the application is receiving the necessary attention afforded to all such applications.