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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1946

Vol. 101 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Rules.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will state (1) the titles, reference numbers, etc., of the several sets of Prison Rules now effective in relation to (a) ordinary prisons, and (b) convict prisons; (2) the date on which each such body of rules was made and by whom made, and (3) the place in this country at which a copy of each such rules may be inspected; further, whether he will cause copies of all Prison Rules now in force to be placed in the Oireachtas Library.

A list of Prison Rules, with their dates and their serial numbers as Statutory Rules and Orders, will be circulated with this reply. Except for one rule made in 1925, all rules were made by the former General Prisons Board. I regret that there are not in the Department of Justice any spare copies which could be placed in the Oireachtas Library, but I understand that the volumes of Statutory Rules and Orders are available for inspection in the National Library. A reprint, in consolidated form, of all the rules has been prepared in the Department and is at present with the parliamentary draftsmen for revision from the drafting point of view. I hope to lay the result before the Dáil within a month or so.

I should add that some of the most important features of prison life are not dealt with in the rules or are dealt with only in outline, the details being left to the discretion of the administrative authority. It has thus been possible, by administrative action, within the framework of the existing rules to improve conditions as regards such important matters as food and hours of recreation. I made a statement on these matters last week: the report will be found in columns 1113 to 1115 of the Debates for Wednesday, 29th May (Volume 101, No. 9).

The following are the particulars:—

List of Statutory Rules and Orders, each being indicated by the year and the serial number of the Order.

Rules for Ordinary Prisons: 1902 (No. 590); 1908 (No. 279); 1911 (No. 297); 1915 (No. 347); 1917 (No. 1302); 1920 (No. 1361).

Ordinary and Convict Prisons: 1918 (No. 244).

Convict Prisons: 1894 (No. 44); 1899 (No. 548); 1896 (No. 297); 1906 (No. 860).

Visiting Committees: Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order, 1925.

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