Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 1997

Vol. 477 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prison Security.

Liam Fitzgerald

Question:

185 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether the provision of airport-type security for visitors to prisons would reduce the over-high incidence of drug abuse in our prisons which is contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984; and her views on whether it is appropriate for visitors to prisons to have physical contact with prisoners whereby they can pass drugs by way of kissing. [8655/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

A number of measures aimed at curbing the supply of illegal drugs are already in place in prisons. These include video surveillance of the visiting area in some prisons and facilities for the searching of prisoners following visits.

The improvement of such detection measures in Mountjoy Prison during 1995, has led to a significant increase in the number of drug seizures made there. This is illustrated by the number of seizures in Mountjoy (main) Prison involving illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia which resulted in formal prison disciplinary proceedings against prisoners over the last three years which were as follows: 1994 — 172; 1995 — 392; 1996 — 423.

Other steps have and are being considered. In this regard I have asked for a report on the use of sniffer dogs and if the indications are positive, I will have no hesitation in employing this and any other means of cutting off the supply of drugs to prisoners. The arrangements for the conduct of visits which are currently in place allow limited physical contact between visitors and prisoners. It is considered that to impose closed visits, prohibiting all physical contact in every case, would cause undue hardship, particularly in the case of prisoners with young families. In addition such arrangements would be inappropriate and impractical in the open prisons.