Green Party condemns Justice Minister's vindictive attack on Prisons Inspector

Press Release: Justice 28 August 2006

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28 August 2006

Green Party condemns Justice Minister's vindictive attack on Prison Inspector

The Green Party has condemned the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell TD for his vindictive comments regarding the Inspector of Prisons Justice Dermot Kinlen. Speaking yesterday the Minister for Justice suggested that Justice Kinlen had "private agendas" in his role as Prisons Inspector and that these agendas are driven by monetary concerns.

Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said: "I am appalled at the Minister's comments yesterday in relation to the Inspector of Prisons Justice Kinlen. To raise the private issue of Justice Kinlen's pension entitlements in the public domain in this manner was entirely inappropriate for a Minister for Justice.

"It is unacceptable for the Minister to treat a Government appointed official with such contempt. The Minister is clearly engaging in this war of words in order to draw attention from the fact that he has done nothing to tackle the growing crisis in our prisons.

"The time has come for action to address the problems of recidivism, overcrowding, and mental health in the Irish Prison Service. The Minister must present his plans to deal with the crisis in the Irish Prison system without further delay," concluded Deputy Cuffe.

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Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com, or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.