THE Minister for Justice has expressed confidence in the prison system being able to cope with additional remand prisoners if the bail referendum is passed on Thursday.
Speaking at the opening of the 68 prisoner Curragh Prison yesterday, Mrs Owen said the Government was committed to a 400 place remand prison at Wheatfield, construction of which is expected to start next May and which is due for completion in 1998. She said remand places also would be made available at Castlerea Prison.
"At the moment, remand prisoners account for about 10 per cent of the 2,000 prisoners in the system. It will take some time for the law to change the bail regulations to be enacted and then there will be a further period while the courts implement the law," she said.