asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the general secretary of the Garda Sergeants and the Inspectors Association requesting that gardaí be taken off prison duties and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Garda Prison Duties.
47.
As the question of having a Garda presence in prisons is a security matter, I am not prepared to comment beyond pointing out that the members of the force who are engaged on duties in prisons have been there on the directions of their authorities to fulfil a serious security need and that that need continues. It is not a matter of gardaí being there to make up for any shortage, actual or alleged, of prison officers. The Garda are performing a different, and essential, task.
However, if any particular aspect of the work creates avoidable problems for any particular member or members, then the relevant Garda association are free to bring the matter to notice and to discuss it either direct with their own authorities, or through the Garda conciliation and arbitration scheme.