Vol. 536 No. 2
412 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 12 April 2001, his attention has been drawn to a petition signed by a large number of women in Mountjoy Prison seeking the provision of CMSP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14106/01]
413 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 12 April 2001, his attention has been drawn to the fact that an evaluation of a complementary medical treatment programme of Her Majesty's Prison, Ardingley, was carried out by the institute for the study and treatment of delinquency at Kings College, London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14107/01]
414 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 12 April 2001, he intends to carry out any scientific study, or provide funding for a study, to establish if there is any scientific evidence to suggest that the programme referred to changes the behaviour of the more difficult women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14108/01]
415 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 12 April 2001, he has sought guidance from the Irish Medical Council with regard to the ethical approach or co-operation with the CMSP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14109/01]
416 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 12 April 2001, he could forward a copy of the initial observations of the Governor of Mountjoy Prison to the CMSP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14110/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 to 416, inclusive, together.
The promoter concerned undertook to provide this programme to the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy Women's Prison on a voluntary basis for a trial period and indicated that she would accept the Prison Service's evaluation of its merits. I have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prisons Service that he had this programme examined following the trial period in consultation with the Prison Governor in Mountjoy Prison and the heads of the prison medical services and the prison psychology service. Their collective view is that the proposal in question would not represent value for money for the service.
I am aware of the petition referred to by the Deputy. However, it should be borne in mind that vulnerable prisoners are not necessarily best placed to objectively assess the merits of any therapeutic approach. I would take into account any objective scientifically validated study which would assist in establishing the effectiveness of any therapeutic clinical approach with prisoners. In seeking to assess the merits of the approach being proposed by the CMSP, I have sought to elicit any such studies but to date none has been obtained. I am not aware of the evaluation of complementary medical treatment referred to in the second part of this question.
