Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
357. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of Covid-19 thematic reports received by her office from the Inspector of Prisons; the date she received them; if she intends plans to publish them; if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35760/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007.
The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. The Office is required to inspect the twelve prisons in Ireland to examine the treatment and conditions of prisoners and staff.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to monitor the situation within prisons for prisoners and staff, the Inspector has suspended her 2021 general inspection programme and has instead embarked on a COVID-19 focused inspection schedule, designed to provide a human rights-based assessment of the response of the Irish Prison Service to the pandemic.
I can confirm that to date I have received a copy of the COVID-19 thematic reports from Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Limerick and Wheatfield Prisons which I plan to bring to the attention of Government and publish in the coming weeks.
Copies of the thematic reports in respect of the other prisons across the estate will also be published in due course following their receipt.
