Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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168. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the channels that exist for a prisoner in the UK, with family connections in Ireland, to be transferred to the Irish prison system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36253/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that following the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995-2023 provides the current mechanism through which a person may seek a transfer of their prison sentence between Ireland and the UK.

Additionally, the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act, 2023 significantly amended the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, alongside transposing EU Framework Decision 2008/909, in respect of intra-EU prisoner transfers under the Convention.

The Irish Prison Service is the competent body for the administration of applications under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts and manage the transfer function on behalf of the Department of Justice.

Applications from people imprisoned in the United Kingdom are processed regularly. Any prisoner that meets the eligibility criteria can submit an application, and information should be readily available from relevant local Prison Authorities.

Each application is examined on its own merits, taking into consideration a wide range of information, and the consent of all parties (the person, and both states) to the transfer. The Convention does not confer an automatic right to transfer, nor does it impose an obligation on either state to agree to a transfer request.