I have been advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that work is continuing on the completion of the necessary actions to introduce the new Prisoner Complaints System including the drafting of the Statutory Instrument which will give legal effect to the new system.
Officials in my Department are continuing to engage with the Office of the Parliamentary Council and the Irish Prison Service with regard to the completing the drafting of the Statutory Instrument.
Unfortunately, it is the case that the restrictions imposed due to the Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions have delayed the completion of this work.
However, I expect that this will be completed very shortly and the Irish Prison Service will then commence the operation of the new Prisoner Complaints System.