Minister only TD in chamber for amendments to prisons Bill

A Minister of State was the only TD present in the Dáil chamber for the final stages of debate on Monday on legislation to complete the closure of St Patrick’s institution, a detention centre for offenders under 21.

Minister of State Ann Phelan took committee, report and final stages of the Bill when amendments are debated, without any opposition or other Government TDs present.

In the Dáil with no other TDs present, the Minister of State moved amendments and when Leas Cheann Comhairle Micheál Kitt asked was that agreed, the Minister responded: “Agreed.”

It is the norm for at least one member of each of the opposition parties to be in attendance for the entire debate.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins defended his party's absence, said he was there for the second stage debate and made a full contribution.

He added that if they were going to have a "silly buggers debate" about who was there and who was not, he was present and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald was absent.

The legislation was accepted at second stage, when the House debated the general principles of the Bill.

Its main purpose is to facilitate the complete closure of St Patrick’s Institution for young offenders.

Speaking afterwards about his absence during the committee stage debate, Mr Collins said he had been there for the entire second stage debate and made a contribution outlining the party’s position in full.

The justice spokesman was speaking after the Bill was passed on Fianna Fáil’s plans to “tackle the scourge of crime in Dublin”.

Pressed on his party’s criticisms of the Government’s handling of Dáil business and the possibility of unexpected amendments from the Department of Justice, Mr Collins said the amendments were well flagged.

He stressed his attendance for the entire second stage debate, said he had made a full contribution and outlined Fianna Fáil’s position and policy.

Absent

The Limerick TD added that if they were going to play the “silly buggers debate about who was there and who wasn’t”, he was happy that his party was properly represented for the debate and took it seriously.

He pointed out that he was there and Ms Fitzgerald was absent.

When she introduced the Bill Ms Phelan said, “I am pleased to present the Prisons Bill 2015 to the House on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who has been unavoidably detained on other important business”.

The Bill was passed in the Seanad last week, but will now go back to the Upper House after two new amendments were introduced in the Dáil on Monday.

They remove the provision of temporary release, in certain circumstances, of prisoners subject to deportation orders, such as in cases where places are not available on charter flights to the country of origin.

A technical amendment was moved to give effect to a long standing practice in Dublin where committals to prison are addressed to the governor of the prison.

Ms Phelan said it was not possible for the drafting of these amendments to be completed in time for inclusion in the Bill when it was published or when it was before the Seanad last week.