Tony Gregory
Question:328 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to involve reputable community and voluntary organisations working with prisoners in the formulation of prison policy. [26974/00]
Written Answers. - Prison Policy Formulation.
I have discussed this issue on a number of occasions with the director general of the Irish Prisons Service and with senior policy advisors in my own Department.
Since I became Minister in June 1997, every research project and study directly carried out by my Department and the Prisons Service in this policy area has involved a consultation element which included community and voluntary organisations as well as the general public. Usually, views have been invited by my staff via public advertisements and direct requests to relevant organisations. Over the past three years, I have also commissioned and facilitated publication of independent research on prisoner related issues on an unprecedented scale. The research teams involved in these projects have included some of the sternest critics of current prisons policy. My policy development approach and that of my officials has been inclusive and neither narrow nor conservative.
In the case of recent specific studies into prisoner healthcare and drug treatment the level of consultation with interested groups has been very extensive indeed. Additionally, the director general of the Irish Prisons Service and his steering group on prison based drug treatment services have recommended the establishment of local liaison systems at individual prison level as well as full discussions, at reasonable intervals, between the steering group and representative groups from the community and voluntary sector. The governors of Mountjoy Prison, Cloverhill Prison, St. Patrick's Institution and the training unit have agreed to establish local liaison groups with relevant community interests to facilitate dialogue and throughcare for persons treated in prison for drug dependency and with a view to enhancing the partnership approach to this issue.
A partnership approach to policy formation is being taken generally by prisons management. It has to be accepted, however, that there are real and practical impediments to conceding all demands by interest groups, however worthy, for a direct management role in this area.