Conference examines discrimination against former prisoners

A conference involving former republican and loyalist prisoners takes place in Dublin Castle today.

The meeting will examine the difficulties experienced by former prisoners since the 1998 British-Irish Peace Agreement was signed.

Up to 25,000 prisoners released under the Agreement are still having difficulty integrating into their respective communities on both sides of the border.

Conference convenor, Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White, said republican prisoners in the south are still being discriminated by the State, and find it difficult to get jobs in the public sector.

Senator White said loyalists in the North also have problems getting even menial jobs in the public sector.