asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to allegations of political interference in the promotion system in the prison service made at the recent annual conference of the Prison Officers' Association; if he will confirm whether any documents purporting to be evidence of this were submitted to him; if so, if it related to one specific case or more; whether such alleged interference took place; if the promotion of a prison officer (details supplied) in County Dublin was carried out properly and that the allegations of the Prison Officers' Association referred to this case; and whether there is any record of any representations by any Deputy advocating this appointment on file in his Department.
Written Answers. - Prison Service Promotions Allegations.
26.
I was present at the annual conference of the Prison Officers' Association on 7 May 1987 when allegations of the use of political influence in promotions within the prison service were made. In response I undertook to investigate what I regarded as very serious allegations and asked the Association to provide me with any evidence they had to substantiate their claims.
On 14 May 1987 the Association wrote to me referring to the undertaking which I had given and enclosing a copy of a document which they indicated they had recently received.
The document in question is a very poor photo-copy of a letter apparently written on Dáil Éireann note-paper. It is addressed to "Mr. Michael Noonan, TD, Minister for Justice" over the signature "Ivan Yates TD". In the body of the letter representations are made on behalf of the person referred to in the Deputy's question who is stated to be anxious to secure a post in the institution referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied.
In the accompanying letter from the Association I was asked to have the relevant files examined to establish the validity of the enclosure. I was asked for an early reply in view of what the letter described as "the serious public allegations made by Mr. Yates against this Association".
On 21 May 1987 my private secretary wrote to the Association and asked them, in view of the very poor quality of the photo-copy which they had forwarded, to arrange to have the actual document which had been produced to them brought to my Department for inspection. He also referred to an article which had appeared in The Irish Times where an officer of the Association had been quoted to the effect that they also had other documentation to support the allegations which had been made. My private secretary indicated that, if I was to fully investigate the allegations, it was imperative that all relevant documentation be made available to me. Accordingly, he requested that a copy of any other relevant documentation which the Association had in its possession, or could obtain, be forwarded to me.
On 25 May 1987 the Association replied expressing surprise at the request for the actual document in their possession to be produced for inspection and asked that I "now address the issues which arise in this matter". Their letter did not indicate that they would comply with the request to produce the document and did not refer at all to the second request which had been made viz. to provide any other relevant documentation which the Association possessed.
I think it will be clear to the House that I have given the Association every opportunity to produce whatever evidence they have to support the allegations of the use of political influence which they made. All that has been produced is the very poor photo-copy to which I have referred. There is no document corresponding to this photo-copy on my Department's files and there is no record of any representations having been received in relation to the appointment of the officer referred to in the Deputy's question.
I am satisfied that the appointment in question was entirely proper.