asked the President if it is intended to fill the vacancy on the General Prisons Board created by the retirement of the medical member of that Board by the appointment thereto of a medical inspector of the Department of Local Government and Public Health, and, if so, whether this new appointee will be possessed of equal authority with other members of the Board and will be in a position to exercise the same influence on prison administration as heretofore; and, further, if the Minister has received an expression of opinion from the Irish Medical Association that a humane and modern prison system can only be secured by giving full influence to the medical point of view in regard to the treatment of prisoners and the control of prisons.

It has been decided not to fill the vacancy on the General Prisons Board which was caused by the retirement of the Medical Member of that Board. The duties formerly carried out by that member will in future be performed by a Medical Inspector of the Department of Local Government and Public Health, who will act merely in an advisory capacity to the Board. I have received from the Irish Medical Association an expression of opinion that a humane and modern prison system can only be secured by giving full influence to the medical point of view in regard to the treatment of prisoners and the control of prisons. I am satisfied that this object will be fully achieved by the arrangements which have now been made.