Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
33. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the recent attacks on prison officers while on duty; the measures that are being put in place to curb such instances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27078/15]
View answerThe health and safety of Irish Prison Service staff is a matter which is taken very seriously by me and the Director General of the Irish Prison Service.
Every assault on a member of staff is treated as serious and appropriate action is taken by the Prison Service, including the reporting of such assaults to an Garda Síochána for the purposes of investigation and criminal prosecution where appropriate.
Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 specifically provides for assaults or threats to peace officers including prison officers acting in the execution of their duty. Any person who assaults or threatens to assault a peace officer in the execution of their duty is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or both or on convictions on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or both. In addition, the Act allows for judges to impose such sentences consecutively on persons found guilty of such offences.
A number of the recent serious assaults are currently under investigation by the Health and Safety Authority. These investigations are in addition to ongoing Garda investigations in relation to all recent incidents.
Separately, the State Claims Agency are commencing a comprehensive review of the risks associated with prisoner on prison officer assaults in accordance with Section 8 of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act, 2000. The Terms of Reference for this review include a root cause analysis and comparative international best practice.
I welcome this review which will assist in the formulation of a robust and systemic approach to minimise the risk of such incidents occurring.
I am also advised that a number of specific measures have also been introduced by the Irish Prison Service over recent months including the establishment of a Focus Group on Hospital Escorts and procedures which is reviewing the conduct of hospital escorts; the establishment of an implementation group to implement a number of actions including the purchase of personal protection equipment such as anti-stab vests, provision of training and the identification of high risk escorts; the undertaking of a trial in the use and application of new equipment including body worn cameras.
The Irish Prison Service will continue to review procedures and progress on an ongoing basis in order to ensure and improve staff safety.
