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.
Press Releases on unfolding crisis
in Irish Prison System:
25 August 2006
Green Party accuses McDowell of hushing-up Prison Report
17 August 2006
Green Party expresses extreme concern at unfolding crisis in Irish
Prisons
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