Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 169: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which criminals are known to run criminal empires when in prison in each of the past three years to date in 2011; if precise statistics have been determined in this regard; the action or actions taken or proposed to address the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12077/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 171: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent, if known, to which organised criminal gangs have access to persons serving prison sentences; if any restrictions can be placed on such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12079/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 171 together.

The issues referred to are of great complexity for which there are no easy solutions short of isolation for all prisoners in custody. Clearly this is undesirable, would be counterproductive in many cases and would also be incompatible with human rights principles. As a result of a number of successful cases taken by An Garda Síochána, there are a large number of high ranking members of organised criminal gangs who are now in prison custody. In common with other prisoners, they have a legal entitlement to access to the public by means of, for example, visits, phone calls, letters and court appearances. They also associate with other prisoners on a daily basis on the landings of the prison that they are detained in.

The Prison Service is committed to preventing such individuals having an inappropriate influence over prisoners associated with these gangs or indeed other persons in custody or in the community, and is in contact as necessary with An Garda Síochána regarding possible criminal activity within the prisons. Measures taken on a continuous basis include regular targeted searching, placement in high security institutions, screened visits, barring of certain visitors, the use of CCTV and mobile phone detectors, examination and monitoring of mail, close supervision of all visits, metal detectors, the setting up of the Operational Support Group (OSG) and the introduction of drug detection dogs.

OSG staff operate in all closed prisons (excluding the Training Unit and Arbour Hill) and perform a number of functions. These include acting as dedicated search teams, being the first respondents to any alarm or incident, the designated control and restraint team for cell removals and relocations and acting as the on call fire pickets.

The OSG has the additional responsibility of gathering and collating all intelligence information in the prison, carrying out high profile escorts, assisting the security chief officer in the continuing assessment and improvement of security within the prison.

A Drug Detection Dog Unit (Canine Unit) has been established on a national basis and became operational in all prisons in 2009. As of May 10th, the Canine Unit has 26 dog handlers, with 34 trained dogs, consisting of 8 conflict resolution dogs, 3 active dogs, and 23 passive dogs. Conflict resolution teams are available for deployment to any prison on request from the Governor.

While I am not in a position, for security reasons, to go into the exact details of all measures being applied to tackle the operation of such criminal gangs, the Deputy can be assured that I am committed to doing everything legally possible to disrupt their activities.