Nuala Fennell
Ceist:1 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Justice whether a female psychologist has been appointed to the women's prison in Mountjoy as recommended by the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Women's Prison Psychology Services.
At present there are three male psychologists employed full-time providing a psychological service for prisoners. The service is to be augmented shortly by the recruitment of three additional psychologists. The question of assigning a female psychologist to the women's prison in Mountjoy will be reviewed when the results of this competition are known.
I thank the Minister for his answer. I wish to stress that every effort should be made in the recruitment process to employ a female psychologist. I ask him to be mindful of the fact that the appointment of a female doctor to female prisoners in Mountjoy five or six years ago made an enormous difference to the prisoners. If the Minister considers it important to keep in mind the recommendations of the report made by the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths, which dealt specifically with the stresses that prisoners are subjected to and which in many instances push prisoners to suicide, could he give to the House a commitment that a female psychologist will be recruited, in view of the fact that many of the women prisoners suffer from problems related to sexual abuse and find it extremely difficult to deal with a male psychologist?
So far as I am concerned, the Deputy is pushing an open door in this regard. The Deputy will understand that the number of females in custody at any one time is relatively small and might not warrant the appointment of a full-time psychologist. I take the point the Deputy is making. It would be best to judge what arrangement will be made to have a female psychologist available on some basis when the results of the competition are available. I take the other remarks made by Deputy Fennell in the spirit in which they were offered. I know that very good work has been done because of the improvements in the medical services in the jail.
Could I ask the Minister to be mindful of Government policy, which is to appoint women when possible? In view of the fact that there will be six psychologists, surely at least one should be a woman.
I think that the Deputy will not be disappointed when the extra psychologists are appointed. One way or another there will have to be some arrangement whereby a female psychologist will be available to female prisoners.