Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2014
3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on addressing the ongoing issues concerning prisoners and ex-prisoners in Maghaberry Prison; the discussions he has had to date on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45320/14]
View answerI wish to ask the Minister his views on addressing the ongoing issues concerning prisoners in Maghaberry Prison and ex-prisoners and whether he has had any discussions to date with any of the authorities in Northern Ireland.
The Deputy will be aware that policing and justice powers were devolved to the Northern Ireland institutions following the Hillsborough Agreement of February 2010. Since that time, David Ford, MLA, has been Minister for Justice with responsibility for prison policy. An executive agency of his Department, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, is responsible for implementing prison policy.
A comprehensive review of the Northern Ireland Prison Service chaired by Anne Owers, which flowed from the Hillsborough Agreement, was published in October 2011. This review set out a path to reform the prison system in Northern Ireland. Implementation of the 40 recommendations made by Anne Owers and her prison review team is due to be completed next year and progress is overseen by an independent expert group which reports every six months.
Anne Owers recognised that Maghaberry Prison was unable to meet the challenge of seeking to provide appropriate security and sufficient and relevant activity for its long and short-term prisoners, including those imprisoned for paramilitary offences and the most serious and grave offences on the Statute Book.
On the recommendation of the Prisoner Ombudsman, Tom McGonigle, the independent assessors carried out a stock take of the implementation of the Roe House agreement in August and September this year. Their stock take report was published by Minister for Justice, David Ford, MLA, on 12 November and highlights areas of progress since 2010 and issues of concern to prisoners and management. The report was based on free access to Maghaberry Prison and to its prisoners, as well as extensive contact with the prison authorities, the Prisoner Ombudsman and representatives of the Prison Officers Association. I understand that any documentation requested was made available.
The independent assessors highlight the murder of a prison officer, David Black, in November 2012 by so-called dissident republicans as a significant challenge and a breach of the principles underpinning the agreement. Ongoing and recent threats against members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and officials dealing with prisoner welfare have further complicated relations and damaged trust between the prison service and prisoners. All threats against those working in prisons and with prisoners in Northern Ireland are completely unacceptable and should be lifted immediately. I trust that the Deputy and all Members of the House will join me in condemning these ongoing threats to the health, welfare and lives of prison officers and those working in prisons in Northern Ireland.
As the Minister is aware, a group of Members of the Oireachtas has been visiting Maghaberry Prison over recent years. The most recent visit was on last Monday week when we met both loyalist and republican prisoners. We have met the Prisoner Ombudsman and the head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. We have met the Minister for Justice, David Ford, MLA, on several occasions, the most recent of which was last Monday. We have continually stressed that we are looking at the human rights issues regarding these prisoners. We are not endorsing, have never endorsed and never will endorse any act of violence. We also make the point made by the Minister about threats. However, there are ongoing human rights issues regarding full body searching; controlled movement; the care and supervision unit, which is the segregation unit; and revoking licence on the basis of closed information. There are also issues relating to health care and education and acknowledged infiltration by MI5.
There have been reviews, reports and inspections since 2003, including the Steele report and the Owers report mentioned by the Minister. There have been several reports from the Prisoner Ombudsman and now we have the stock take. The point is that there is a lack of urgency regarding implementing any of those recommendations. The same recommendations have been made continually. The murder of David Black is most regrettable, should never have happened and has been condemned. However, the lack of urgency in implementing recommendations is not helping the situation.
The recent stock take report was accepted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service and by the relevant prisoners and opens an opportunity to resolve outstanding matters in order that the unimplemented elements of the Roe House agreement can be achieved. The independent assessors recommend a timeline of six months for the resolution of outstanding issues. I would encourage all concerned to make the most of this opportunity. I have discussed these issues with the Minister for Justice, David Ford, MLA, and will continue to do so as appropriate. I also intend to meet over the coming weeks the independent assessors who concluded the stock take report. My officials continue to meet the range of agencies responsible for prisoner issues in Northern Ireland, including the Department of Justice, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the Prison Ombudsman, and officials from the Northern Ireland Office on non-devolved aspects. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep a close eye on issues. I remind the House that these are people who have been convicted of the most grave and serious criminal offences on the Statute Book. Lengthy terms of imprisonment have been handed down to some of them for most unacceptable dissident republican crimes.
A number of the prisoners we have met have not been convicted of anything because they are in there on very long periods of remand. When we were there in May, there was great hope that the stock take would lead to progress. We were there last Monday week and one of the aspects of that uncontrolled movement had broken down because of the ambiguity between the prisoners and governors. Strip-searching is the most degrading and humiliating exercise for both the prisoner and the prison officer. Portlaoise Prison, which has many dissident republicans and gangland criminals, does not use this type of strip-searching. It uses all the other technology. The Northern Ireland Prison Service says that it tried this technology and it did not work, but was there any independent assessment of how it did not work? There is now faith that there could be an independent chair appointed to deal with these issues and I ask the Minister to encourage that during his next meetings. Our group is anxious to meet the Minister, and hopefully this can be facilitated before Christmas.
I am most familiar with the regime in Portlaoise Prison in my constituency but I am also cognisant of the points made by the Deputy regarding the meetings of the prison reform group concerning the strip-searching regime and the increased access to landings, all of which have been included in the stock take report. It is generally accepted, including by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, that the conditions in Maghaberry Prison are not ideal. Any prison regime requires a balance between the obligations on prison management to provide a secure and safe environment for staff and prisoners and the requirement to respect at all times the dignity of staff and prisoners. Where that balance is not achieved, an element of frustration has been expressed. However, this by no means excuses or justifies any threats, attacks or intimidation against those who work in the prison system, be they prison officers or people working towards the health and welfare of prisoners.
I understand that there has been a request from the Deputy's group for a meeting with me. I intend fulfilling that request notwithstanding the fact that my schedule between now and Christmas is rather engaging. I am travelling to Belfast as soon as parliamentary questions are completed. I will consult the Deputy and would like to have the opportunity to meet her group before the end of the year.
