Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
38. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the implementation of the stock-take report and the work of the independent chairperson of the Maghaberry Prison forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45385/15]
View answerIn November 2014, the 'stocktake' report of the Independent Assessment Team, which reviewed progress in implementing the Roe House Agreement of 2010, was published. Its recommendations were accepted by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. Two recommendations concerned areas under the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.
Progress in implementing the recommendations has been slow.
A key recommendation was the restoration of the prison forum, where prisoners meet with prison management. The first person proposed to chair the forum was not acceptable to republican prisoners. Following a process, a Representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross agreed in July 2015 to act as independent chair.
The ICRC's proposals for an agenda for the prison forum were developed over a number of months and were presented in November. The proposed agenda was not accepted.
Republican prisoners have blamed the prison authorities, saying that the authorities had refused to accept “minimalist” proposals put forward by the independent chair.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service has said that it remains committed to implementing the recommendations of the stocktake report but only in “an environment where staff are free from threat and intimidation.”
The issue of threats to prison staff was raised with me when I discussed the situation in Maghaberry, including the state of play regarding the prison forum and other issues arising from the stocktake report, with Minister Ford on 11 December.
Members of the Independent Assessment Team remain engaged in the prison. My officials are in regular contact with members of the Independent Assessment Team and with the chair of the prison forum.
