asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to implement any of the proposals of the annual reports of the Visting Committee of St. Patrick's Institution, North Circular Road, Dublin.

As I indicated on 9 November last in a written reply to a similar question, recommendations made by visting committees receive careful consideration and frequently it is possible to adopt them. As far as St. Patrick's Institution is concerned, many of the proposals made over the years by the visting committee to that institution have been implemented. Again, however, I must emphasise, as I did in my earlier reply, that it is not possible for me, as it was not possible for my predecessors, to accept some of those recommendations.

Can the Minister indicate to what extent the proposals in the annual report of the visting committee for the year 1975-1976 were implemented?

The educational aspects of the report were implemented to some degree. Other aspects were considered. Unfortunately they were not found to be acceptable. There was one grotesque suggestion in one of the reports—that is a personal opinion. There was a recommendation which would give the visiting committees appellate jurisdiction over the Governor and put members of the staff including the Governor in the position of having to appear before the committee and defend themselves against accusations by a prisoner in the presence of the prisoner who, according to the recommendation, would be entitled to the assistance of a member of the committee as an advocate. This is Alice in Wonderland.

I do not accept the Minister's interpretation.

I am entitled to my interpretation.