John Deasy
Question:261 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects the new prison rules will be completed and implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8720/03]
Written Answers - Prison Rules.
Dan Neville
Question:279 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he plans to modernise prison management rules which were introduced in 1945. [8907/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 279 together.
The Rules for the Government of Prisons 1947 provide a very detailed regulatory framework for every operational aspect of prison life and set out in considerable detail the full range of rights, duties and obligations for prisoners, prison staff and management.
Draft new rules were prepared in my Department and transmitted to the Attorney General for legal drafting. The parliamentary counsel subsequently provided my Department and the Irish Prison Service in August 2002 with a draft set of new rules in legal form.
These draft rules have been the subject of detailed and extensive consultation with senior staff throughout the prison system. The observations of the Irish Prison Service on the initial 30 rules were received in my Department recently and I have been advised that comments on the balance of the rules will be provided by the service within the coming weeks. The rules will come into force as a statutory instrument as soon as possible after the text has been finalised.