A lot of allegations have been made regarding visitors to Portlaoise. Some of them say that they were brought up one day and were not allowed in, that they had to come back about a month afterwards and that they still did not get in. On the third day they might have succeeded in getting through. It is a corporal work of mercy to visit prisoners. While I appreciate the difficulties, could there be some co-operation or friendly arrangement with relatives to visit prisoners? In view of allegations made by some responsible people regarding ill-treatment and so on, would the Minister not consider it appropriate to allow members of the Press or some independent bodies visit Portlaoise seeing that we have so much security in it so as to allay the anxieties that might have been felt by some of the relatives and to allay some of the propaganda that might have been used because of the very fact that the Press and even Members of the Oireachtas were not allowed in?
Prisons Bill, 1977: Committee and Final Stages.
On several occasions I have offered the prisoners to operate a system of visits by appointment so that visitors could come on a specific day at a specific time and would be admitted without delay. That offer has been consistently refused. Visitors all tend to present themselves on one or two afternoons in the week with the result that bunching takes place resulting in the number who present themselves for visits being unable to be accommodated and some are disappointed. I recognise that this is a hardship on visitors who have travelled a long distance but the remedy is in the hands of the prisoners who have been offered an appointment system. The prison authorities are quite prepared to work a system of visits by appointment. The prisoners, because they want to have the propaganda point of having women and children queuing outside the prison, have consistently refused this. The offer is still open. If they want to co-operate in a system of visits by appointment the prison authorities will co-operate with them and will arrange visits.
On the question of the allegations, I want to set the Deputy's mind at rest and contradict something he said. He said that responsible people have made these allegations. No responsible person has made these allegations. Responsible people have misguidedly repeated allegations which originated from within the prison. Allegations have been made by convicted criminals, convicted subversives, with a high degree of ruthlessness, who are highly antagonistic towards this State and its institutions. They have made allegations that have been taken up and repeated by bona fide people who have been “conned” by them. There will be no inquiry into these allegations. I am satisfied these allegations are without substance. There have been two instances in the courts recently where these allegations were in substance repeated on affidavit, they were answered by the prison authorities and the answers fully satisfied the courts. The Senator can take it that what I say with regard to what happens at Portlaoise is factually true and is accurate in every respect. I am satisfied that neither inhumane nor brutal practices are carried on there. There is no need for an inquiry and the allegations that have been made are false and without substance.
I made a reference to the fact that the Opposition spokesman on Justice made a request to visit there and his request was not granted. Is that correct?
No. The Opposition spokesmen on Defence and Justice asked to see the Curragh, and my colleague the Minister for Defence, in his discretion decided to refuse that request. I understood subsequently that they were anxious to see some reserve prison accommodation that is available in the Curragh. Plunkett Barracks was converted in order to hold prisoners should the need arise for overflow accommodation. It was described in the other House as a high security unit. That description would flatter it. It is a military barracks which has been converted; it does not have cell accommodation and it is intended only in the event of the other prisons being over-full. The Opposition spokesman has never asked to visit any of the ordinary prisons and I would welcome a request, although at this stage it is probably a bit late, but in the term of the next Administration I am sure that if he seeks an invitation the request will be kindly received and he will be welcome to visit the civil prisons with the exception of Portlaoise.