§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is necessary for any of the purposes of the Irish Coercion Act that the following rules should be enforced in Kilmainham Prison:—1. The rule that no person detained on suspicion under Warrant of the Lord Lieutenant shall receive a visit anywhere but in the cell or "cage" crossed by the iron gratings, which in- 1965 tervene between the visitor and the prisoner; 2. The rule which, by prescribing this "cage" alone as the place for the reception of visits, precludes the general body of prisoners from seeing their friends and relatives while any one prisoner is receiving a visitor; whether these rules might not be relaxed so far as to allow the prisoners to receive visits in an ordinary cell or room; whether several such cells or rooms might not be provided for the purpose, so as to allow of several persons being visited at one time, and thereby relieve the friends and relatives of prisoners, who often come long distances to see them, from being obliged to stand for hours outside the door of the jail, exposed to the stares and comments of policemen; and, whether the purposes of the Coercion Act are not satisfied by detention without the infliction of any painful humiliation upon prisoners or any distressing inconvenience upon those who come to visit them?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, I only saw the Notice of the Question this morning, therefore I have not had time to inquire; but I have to-day received some information which, I think, will enable me to answer the Question. With respect to visiting rooms, there are two which are always available, and another one is being fitted up. Some modification will be made in the so-called "cage," which, I think, will be considered reasonable. There is no waiting-room for visitors, and the accommodation at the disposal of the Governor does not permit of a waiting-room being provided. Accommodation will probably be provided at the Court-house close by; and the Irish Government are at present in communication with the Grand Jury of the County of Dublin on the subject. Prisoners in the hospital are allowed to receive visitors subject to the approval of the medical officer.