Eamon Ryan
Question:87 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when complaints procedures offering appropriate guarantees of independence and impartiality as recommended by the CPT will be available. [23440/03]
Vol. 572 No. 4
87 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when complaints procedures offering appropriate guarantees of independence and impartiality as recommended by the CPT will be available. [23440/03]
The recommendation referred to by the Deputy was contained in the report to the Irish Government of the third visit to Ireland by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT. The committee, which operates under the aegis of the Council of Europe, visited Ireland for inspection purposes in May of last year and the report on this visit and the Irish Government's response to its findings were published by the CPT on 18 September 2003.
Where allegations of assault or ill-treatment are made by prisoners, the Garda Síochána are called to investigate. A prisoner may also make a complaint to the prison visiting committee, to the prison chaplain, to the prison doctor, to the Minister and he or she also has access to the courts. He or she may also complain to the European Court of Human Rights and to the CPT. There is ready access by prisoners to these avenues of complaint.