New cash funds to aid Irish jailed abroad

The Government today allocated €218,000 funding towards the welfare of Irish people in foreign prisons.

There are about 750 citizens incarcerated in jails in up to 20 other countries abroad but the majority are in Britain.

The €218,000 funding will be distributed by the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) which helps the Foreign Affairs Department in providing consular assistance.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern today also received an independent report on Irish Prisoners Abroad by former junior Government minister Chris Flood.

Mr Ahern said his Department has given €900,000 in funding to the ICPO over the past five years.

The minister explained that the increasing number of people travelling overseas meant consular work now directly touches the lives of more and more Irish citizens.

“One important and demanding aspect of our consular service is the assistance we provide to Irish citizens incarcerated abroad, very often long distances from home and the network of family and friends.

“I am very conscious of the problems of isolation, communication and cultural difficulties which many Irish prisoners experience abroad. For their families back in Ireland, often elderly parents, the experience of having their loved ones detained in distant locations can be particularly distressing, and visits to the incarcerated family member can present considerable logistical challenges.”

He added: “Of course, if Irish people commit crimes abroad, they must face the consequences of their actions before the local criminal justice system.

“However, we have a responsibility to ensure that our people are not discriminated against as foreign prisoners, and that any concerns they may have regarding their safety or treatment, are brought to the attention of the relevant authorities within the local prison system or the civilian authorities where necessary”.

Mr Flood was asked by Mr Ahern to prepare a Report on Irish Prisoners Abroad in the context of a commitment contained in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (2000).

The PPF identified an objective “to address the special needs of those Irish emigrants abroad who are particularly marginalised or at greater risk of exclusion”.

A Task Force on Emigrants was later established to develop a coherent, long term approach to Irish emigrants and for a research project to be undertaken “to identify the number of Irish prisoners abroad and their needs for services in prison”.

The Task Force on Emigrants submitted its report in 2002 and the Irish Abroad Unit was subsequently established in the Department of Foreign Affairs.