MINISTER FOR Defence Willie O'Dea has called for a ban on politicians making representations to the Minister for Justice on behalf of prisoners. Mr O'Dea told The Irish Timesyesterday a ban would help quell controversy and victims' anger each time the issue is raised publicly.
It would put an end to TDs and Senators being "tormented" by requests to make representations by prisoners' families.
The Minister was responding to details that showed 37 TDs and Senators made representations on behalf of prisoners during 2006.
Those who made representations included former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, and six Fianna Fáil Ministers including Mr O'Dea.
Other were Ministers Éamon Ó Cuív, Dermot Ahern and Brian Lenihan, as well as John O'Donoghue (now Ceann Comhairle) and Dick Roche (then minister for the environment). The details were released under the Freedom of Information Act to the Irish Independent.
The majority (24) of TDs and Senators who made representations were from Fianna Fáil.
North Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Thomas McEllistrim made most representations, six in all, to then minister Michael McDowell during 2006. One was for the early release for a prisoner in Limerick Prison who had served 10 years for murder. Mr McEllistrim wrote that it was a "particularly tragic" case and described the prisoner as having an "exemplary" record.
The request was declined. In his response, Mr McDowell noted that the prisoner had tried to smuggle drugs into the prison.
The majority of the representations involved requests for transfers to different prisons. A number sought temporary or early release. Some 27 requests for transfers or release were declined by Mr McDowell while 17 were granted.
Two requests involved republican prisoners. Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin made a representation seeking Christmas release for a prisoner serving four years for membership of a proscribed organisation.
Fianna Fáil senator Camillus Glynn forwarded an e-mail from Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan calling for the early release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe. Both were turned down.
Mr O'Dea said he made representations only in a small minority of cases. "TDs have no way of verifying the stories being told to them so they need to be very cautious when phrasing the letter."
Several politicians defended the system, including Labour leader Eamon Gilmore. "There are occasions when it is justified, where the family request a transfer because they are finding it difficult to visit a prisoner in one particular prison."
Minister for Health Mary Harney said no group should be excluded from the possibility of representations. Fine Gael TD for Mayo Michael Ring stood over his two representations. "I make no apology at all for asking that a man be treated for alcohol addiction. I shouldn't be doing that, the system should have dealt with that."
Victims' group Advic criticised the practice, saying that the perspective of victims was absent.