asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to a news item concerning an escapee from Mountjoy prison in Dublin and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Since the beginning of this year two offenders escaped from Mountjoy Prison. The escapes occurred on 21 January and 6 February. In each case the escapee was a member of a work party outside the prison. The offender who escaped on 21 January is still at large. The other escapee was rearrested by the gardaí on 15 February and returned to Mountjoy Prison. I do not consider that any comment from me is called for in relation to these escapes. Allowing certain types of prisoners to work outside prisons is commonplace here and in other countries and is done in acceptance of the risk that there will be an occasional escape.