It is Irish Prison Service healthcare policy to seek to facilitate any application by a prisoner for access to information regarding their personal medical treatment. This is in line with recommended practice by the relevant professional bodies.
The person referred to by the Deputy contacted the Irish Prison Service by telephone requesting medical certificates for the purpose of obtaining disability payments. As this prisoner has been on temporary release for a number of months and has not been under the care of the prison medical services, he was advised that he should contact his own GP in respect of the required medical certificates. He was also advised that his own GP could make contact with the prison surgery if any further information was required. The Irish Prison Service has received no subsequent communication from the person concerned or their GP.