§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for arranging to transfer prisoners held in the United Kingdom, who are Irish citizens, to serve out their sentences in the Irish Republic under the convention on the transfer of sentenced persons. [35585]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe United Kingdom ratified the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons in 1985. The Republic of Ireland has not ratified the convention and repatriation of prisoners between the two jurisdictions is not therefore possible.