Question
92. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Republican prisoners on remand in E Wing in Portlaoise; the length of time in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22196/17]
Answer
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that as of Monday 8 May 2017, there were a total of 39 subversive prisoners in custody in Portlaoise. There are 8 subversive prisoners awaiting trial. The table below outlines the length of time each of these 8 prisoners have been in custody rounded to the nearest year and months.
|
Case
|
Date committed
|
Length of time in custody
|
|
1
|
24.05.2016
|
11 months
|
|
2
|
24.05.2016
|
11 months
|
|
3.
|
16.05.2015
|
2 years
|
|
4.
|
17.12.2016 **
|
5 months
|
|
5.
|
17.12.2016
|
5 months
|
|
6.
|
24.04.2017
|
1 month
|
|
7.
|
03.03.2017
|
2 months
|
|
8.
|
17.12.2016
|
5 months
|
Subversive prisoners are located in the maximum security Portlaoise Prison which, in addition to the usual perimeter security, has an armed military presence. My officials closely monitor this category of prisoner to ensure good order and security in Portlaoise Prison and also in the context of the individual prisoners sentence management.