Brian Stanley
Question:17. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to ensure that the outcome of investigations conducted as a result of complaints made by prisoners will be published. [5992/13]
View answerWednesday, 6 February 2013
Questions (17)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, the new prisoner complaints procedure was introduced with effect from the 1 November 2012. The new procedure allows for all complaints made by prisoners alleging serious ill treatment, use of excessive force, serious intimidation/discrimination or threats by a member of staff of the Irish Prison Service to be investigated by an independent investigator. The Inspector of Prisons has oversight of all investigations, has access to any material relevant to any such investigation and may investigate any aspect that he considers relevant.
I have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that, in line with the provisions of SI No. 11 of 2013 Prison Rules (Amendments) 2013, it is not intended that investigation reports or the outcomes of individual complaints will be made public. However, an overview of the outcomes of investigations will be included in the Service's Annual Reports.
I can advise the Deputy that in accordance with the provisions of SI No. 11 of 2013 the complainant and any person against whom the complaint was made shall be given a general outline of the contents of the investigation report and shall be advised of the findings.