Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 February 2013
179. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of recent revelations regarding St. Patrick's Institution, and his plan to implement new procedures for the investigation of prisoner complaints, the timescale he envisages for implementing a new plan for those aged 18 to 21 within the criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6292/13]
View answerAs I have previously informed the House, the type of abuse outlined by the Inspector of Prisons in his report on St. Patrick's Institution is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Deputy will be aware that following the publication of the Inspector's Report in October last year, I published the Irish Prison Service's Action plan for implementing the Inspector's recommendations.
A new prisoner complaints procedure was introduced with effect from 1 November 2012. 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, are now investigated by an independent investigator. In addition, a number of the new investigators have been appointed to carry out an examination of historical complaints in St. Patrick's Institution, including those referred to by the Inspector in his report and following an initial review, 8 cases are being further examined.
I can assure the Deputy that should breaches of discipline be found to have occurred, disciplinary action will be initiated under the Prison (Disciplinary Code for Officers) Rules, 1996. The Deputy will also be aware that the Government committed, in the Programme for Government, to ending the practice of sending children to St. Patrick's Institution. The practice of sending 16 year old boys to St. Patrick’s ceased on 1 May 2012. The detention of all children in St. Patrick’s Institution will end with the provision of more appropriate accommodation and regimes in the new detention facility at Oberstown by mid-2014. As part of the Irish Prison Service 3-Year Strategic Plan 2012-2015 the Prison Service is devising a specific strategy for the management of young offenders, working with its partners and other agencies to ensure that the regime for young offenders is age appropriate and that best practise is observed. As part of this strategy the Prison Service will also review the overall approach taken to the placement of 18-21 year olds, in line with my intention to introduce primary legislation for the purpose of closing St. Patrick's Institution as a detention centre for persons aged 21 and under.
