The Minister for Justice is not in a position to assist a man who is reported to have been on hunger strike for the past 63 days because of his grievance over the outcome of court proceedings, the Dáil has been told.
Mr McDowell said he was extremely concerned at the reports that the man had been on hunger strike since September 10th, this year.
Labour's justice spokesman, Mr Joe Costelloe had appealed to the Minister to intervene in the case of Mr Frank Collins, of Ballinspittle in Co Cork who was on his third hunger strike in protest at his alleged treatment by various State authorities.
Mr McDowell urged "all connected with this man to make every effort to persuade him not to pursue this course of action, given the severe consequences it may have for his own health".
But the Minister stressed that because of the separation of powers "it is not possible for me as Minister to attempt to influence or second-guess the courts in the way in which they exercise their functions.
"In these circumstances I very much regret that I am not in a position to offer this person any assistance where he is dissatisfied with the outcome of Court proceedings."
The Minister said that inquiry "into wide ranging allegations against many serving and retired members of An Garda Síochána as well as staff and officials of Cork county council, members of the legal professions and members of the judiciary in Cork, concluded that there was no credible evidence to support and sustain the allegations."
