Vol. 450 No. 6
43 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the policy the Government has with regard to prison rioters; the investigations which have been instituted to establish the origins of such incidents; the analysis, if any, of recent events in Portlaoise prison which has been carried out; the independent examination, if any, which has taken place; and the consequences for the prisoners who are involved in such riots. [4933/95]
I presume the Deputy's question is prompted by the recent relatively minor disturbances which occurred in a small section of Portlaoise Prison on Friday, 24 February, 1995. Incidents of this kind, thankfully, are rare. More serious disturbances or actual riots are extremely rare. The incident on 24 February certainly could not be classed as a riot in the normal sense in which that term is used.
Policy in relation to disturbances and riots in the prisons is no different now than it has been under previous Governments. The first priority is to avoid as far as possible, creating circumstances likely to lead to difficulties of this kind. This is achieved by ensuring that genuine grievances and frustrations on the part of prisoners are dealt with and not allowed to fester. It is also achieved through the professionalism of both prison management and staff who constantly use their abilities and experience to anticipate and head off trouble. If a disturbance does break out, prompt intervention by management and staff to contain the disturbance, quell it and prevent it from spreading is a key strategic requirement. Each prison has in place a strategy for managing disturbances which is reviewed from time to time to ensure that the correct response is applied in any given situation. Finally, special staff training, which has been on-going for some time to assist staff in managing disturbances and riots in a professional manner, is continuing.
Anybody who has served as Minister for Justice in this country or indeed in a similar position in any other country will of course acknowledge that, despite the best practices in the management of offenders and prevention strategies, disturbances and riots can occur from time to time. I am, however, as satisfied as any Minister for Justice can be that all reasonable arrangements are in place to deal with such an eventuality.
The disturbance in Portlaoise Prison on 24 February 1995 involved a total of five prisoners. It was quelled promptly by staff in the vicinity and was prevented from spreading — containment is a critical requirement when a disturbance occurs and this was achieved with speed and efficiency on this occasion. The management of the disturbance and of its immediate aftermath by senior staff in the prison was exemplary and I should like to place that on record.
