Mr. John Finucane:

There has been recognised progress in the prison at report level. Unannounced visits caused the dramatic report published last year and they were followed up by announced visits. There have been improvements, as far as the report is concerned, around management structures.

I have seen very little progress on the ground. As recently as this week I talked to a person sentenced inmate at Roe House, and it sounds quite ludicrous, that prisoners are not allowed to have guitars for their guitar classes as they have been told that guitars pose a security risk. One prisoner, through the tuck shop, acquired an electronic guitar tuner. Somebody else applied for a tuner but was told by security that it was a complete no-no. At the risk of sounding farcical I have outlined an example. A couple of weeks ago my office, and other offices across the board, were told that only a qualified solicitor can send a person to the prison on a legal visit but, practically, that is unfeasible. With respect, it is not up to the prison to dictate to a legal office as to who it should send to consult with a client. Judicial review proceedings were threatened and the prison backed down. I found all of that a complete waste of everybody's time when there are so many problems to be dealt with by Maghaberry Prison and it is worrying to think that a governor is sitting down thinking what is the number one priority today and deciding to frustrate legal consultations.

With respect to education, it has been well noted today, and even in the general prison population, I have noticed an upturn in the number of clients that I have dealt with who enter prison with mental health difficulties and some type of addiction issues. They leave Maghaberry Prison a hell a lot worse off then when they entered the institution. Maghaberry Prison is unique in that way when compared with Magilligan Prison, the Hydebank Wood facility and Lakewood centre, which deals with children.

I am not seeing much progress on the ground but I accept that, given the crisis level the reports represented in 2015, Maghaberry Prison is, hopefully, being steered in the right direction at a senior level and that there will be a drip down process of that progress.