Senator Bacik calls for a dabate on Prisons, and a debate on Iran.

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik: I support Senator Mary White's call for a debate on prisons, which is long overdue. The work of the Irish Penal Reform Trust to which she referred has been important in generating debate on prisons and on the need to ensure alternatives to custody.

It must be stressed that there are other ways to impose sanctions on those who fail to pay debts or fines. Prison is not the appropriate method. St. Patrick's Institution, which Senator Mary White mentioned, has been recommended for closure for more than 20 years. It is recognised internationally as being an inhumane institution in which there is almost no prospect of rehabilitation for its inmates, who tend to go on from there to the adult Mountjoy Prison. While on this subject, I have visited Mountjoy Prison many times and have raised the issue of the appalling conditions there many times. It is utterly inhumane that in 2009, adults still are slopping out in their own overcrowded cells, which were designed for one person.

I ask the Leader for a debate on this issue as a matter of urgency, especially in light of recent reports to the effect that the move to Thornton Hall apparently may not go ahead or will be delayed, in which case people will be living in such dreadful conditions in Mountjoy Prison for much longer than was anticipated.

I also seek a debate on the need for additional prison places at Thornton Hall. While the conditions there will be better, this will represent an unfortunate step in that it will greatly increase the number of prison places available at a time when Members should be debating the need to lock up so many people in institutions in which there is so little prospect of rehabilitation.

I also renew the call I made yesterday for a debate on Iran. All Members should be deeply concerned about the brutal oppression of peaceful demonstrations. Clearly, it is not up to any Member to support a particular politician in Iran. However, all Members should be concerned about the manner in which the regime is putting down demonstrations. I refer in particular to the dreadfully distressing pictures that are widespread on the Internet, of a young woman, Neda Soltani, who apparently was shot point-blank by government forces as she simply stood on the sidelines of a demonstration. The Iranian ambassador should be called in and the Minister for Foreign Affairs should express his concern. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the House in order that Members can ask him to so do.