Work will soon commence on the refurbishment of the main barracks building at Glencree at a cost of around £3 million. When complete the building will be home to an Irish/British heritage centre, a state of the art conference facility, bedrooms and office space. It will bring total bed accommodation on site to upwards of one hundred. Plans are being made to restore another derelict building within the complex to create a coffee shop to cater for the many thousands of visitors to the centre each year.

Meanwhile current campaigns include, for International Women's Day on 8th March, a campaign on the treatment of women in USA prisons (including shackling pregnant inmates and various forms of sexual harassment and abuse); recommendations for action from the Irish AI office, and there will be a letter-writing marathon to the US authorities in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin on Saturday 13th March from 9am - 4pm; details Sonja Tack at 01 - 4540733.

Another current AI campaign focuses on the 'disappeared' in Algeria (over 3,000 people over the last 6 years); the courageous work of the families of the disappeared has now made it into a national issue. Among its recommendations, AI has called for a full, impartial and independent investigation into all cases of 'disappearances'. Recommended actions and report available. AI Irish Section, 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2; phone 01 - 677 63 61, fax 677 63 92; E-mail; info@amnesty.iol.ie