Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
147. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of vacancies on each prison visiting committee in 2022; the number of visits each visiting committee made to their respective prisons during 2022; if he will provide information on the training received by visiting committee members during 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7720/23]
View answer148. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice if he will report on the progress on the review of prison visiting committees; if his Department intends publishing a summary report of the public consultation; if so, the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7721/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
The Programme for Government commits to reviewing the existing functions, powers, appointment procedures, and reporting processes for Prison Visiting Committees. The Department of Justice undertook to complete this action under the Justice Strategy 2021-2023.
The function of Prison Visiting Committees is to visit, at frequent intervals, the prison to which they are appointed and hear any complaints which may be made to them by any prisoner. They report to the Minister for Justice any abuses observed or found by them in the prison and any repairs which they think may be urgently needed.
At present, the members of each of the Prison Visiting Committees of the twelve prisons/places of detention are appointed by the Minister for Justice under the Prison (Visiting Committees) Act 1925, as applied by section 4 of the Prisons Act 1970. Rules relating to the specific functions and operation of such Committees are set out in the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925, and the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1972.
The review of Prison Visiting Committees is to examine their existing functions, powers, appointment procedures, and reporting processes. This review will look to ensure greater efficiency and transparency in the appointment, administration, and reporting of Prison Visiting Committees, enhance the members’ understanding of their roles and powers within the Prison Visiting Committees, and broaden knowledge and awareness of their function and availability amongst the prison population and community.
An online public consultation was opened in July 2022, and remained open for 6 weeks. Over 100 submissions were received from a range of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, current and former Prison Visiting Committees members and Chairs, Irish Prison Service staff and Governors, academics, current or former prisoners and their families, and civil society organisations.
Department of Justice officials were also invited to meet with the National Prison Visiting Committees Chairpersons Group for an in-person consultation on 8 August 2022. In August, Department officials also engaged with the Irish Prison Service to facilitate consultation with prisoners. Following this, the Department’s cross-functional team is now considering the outcomes of the consultation and preparing the report.
Given the independence of the Committees and their role in oversight of the prison system, the Chairs of the Visiting Committees organise regular training events for the Committees. These events generally take place twice a year and focus on human rights and other issues of general concern to such oversight. While this training is facilitated through the provision of facilities at the Prison Service Training College, the content and delivery of the training is set by the Committees themselves.
In relation to the number of visits each visiting committee made to their respective prisons during 2022, the Deputy may be aware that the Prison Visiting Committee Annual Reports up to 2020 are available on the Gov.ie website and the 2021 Annual Reports will be published there shortly. A number of the reports contain information on the number of visits undertaken, however to date it has not been general practice to do so. I have now asked for this information to be included, as standard, in all reports from 2022 on.
The information on the number of vacancies in each Prison Visiting Committees as of the 10th February, is set out in the table below.
|
Prison / Place of Detention |
Membership Vacancies |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
0 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
0 |
|
Cloverhill Prison |
0 |
|
Cork Prison |
0 |
|
Dóchas Centre |
1 |
|
Limerick Prison |
0 |
|
Loughan House Open Centre |
1 |
|
Midlands Prison |
2 |
|
Mountjoy Prison |
0 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
0 |
|
Shelton Abbey Open Centre |
1 |
|
Wheatfield Place of Detention |
0 |
