31 Jan 2013, 18:16
The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement this morning met with Pauline McCabe, the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland on the rights of prisoners in Northern Ireland.
31 January 2013
Ms McCabe outlined the role of her office in investigating complaints from prisoners in custody in Northern Ireland prisons. The Prisoner Ombudsman is appointed by the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland and is completely independent of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
Chairman of the Committee, Joe McHugh, T.D., says: “We thank Ms McCabe for an insightful and candid presentation to our Committee this morning. Ms McCabe detailed the efforts of her office in contributing to greater openness and transparency in how prisoners' issues are dealt with. Her role is to carry out independent, fair, impartial investigations and to make recommendations for change within prisons, where appropriate. Over 90 percent of her recommendations are now fully accepted.
“While we acknowledge that prison reform efforts are underway in Northern Ireland, Committee Members share Ms McCabe’s desire for a strategic and well-resourced reform process for transforming the Northern Ireland Prison Service. The Committee raised concerns around the human rights of prisoners in Maghaberry Prison in particular. We received reassurances from Ms McCabe that eligible complaints made to her office are investigated comprehensively and impartially and that upholding the human rights of prisoners was at the heart of everything her office does. In our discussions, we also note that more work is required to encourage more members of the Nationalist community to take up posts as prison officers.
\"The issue of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland was also raised and the Committee will continue to keep abreast of moves towards a formal human rights framework. In previous meetings, we have discussed how best to chart a course forward in which outstanding matters can be resolved. Such a Bill would impact on the issues around human rights raised this morning.\"
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Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Peter Fitzpatrick, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Peter Fitzpatrick, Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Martin McAleese, Mary Moran, Mary White.
Chairman: Joe McHugh, TD Vice-Chairman: Joe O'Reilly, TD