asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to adopt the recommendations in the Whitaker Report on the Penal System, 1985; his views on the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Whitaker Report.
60.
This report sets out a wide range of general principles and approaches that should be adhered to in the management of the penal system and, in view of this, it is not feasible in the course of a reply to a parliamentary question to comment on the attitude adopted in relation to each specific recommendation and conclusion contained in the report.
The position is, however, that since its completion, various findings of the report have been taken into account in dealing with a number of prison issues. Many of the recommendations made were in line with developments already under way as part of the ongoing prison administration process. For example, in relation to the development of alternatives to imprisonment, an issue which was of major concern to the committee, very satisfactory progress has been made in relation to community service orders, which had been provided for and brought into operation shortly before the report was published.
Another important recommendation was that a new duty roster for the Prison Service should be introduced. In relation to this too there has been very considerable progress — within the past few weeks, a new roster has been agreed following long and detailed negotiations between my Department and the Prison Officers' Association. The roster is already in operation in some institutions and will be fully operational in the others within the coming weeks. Certain recommendations and conclusions contained in the report require further consideration, particularly having regard to changes in circumstances that have occurred since the committee completed their deliberations.Also, in some instances, the recommendations made related to matters for which the Minister for Justice is not primarily responsible.