Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Donnellan, Mr. Waters and their team for coming before the committee. Picking up from what Deputy Cullinane was saying, I was struck by what Mr. Donnellan said about prisons being the new lunatic asylums. It is difficult to hear that in terms of the morale of the prison staff. No more than a parent looking after a child - he or she must be in a good place in order to rear the child - prison staff are the keepers of the prisoners. It is extremely important - and I am glad to hear from Ms McCaffrey - that counselling services are available and that the Irish Prison Service has a plan in this regard. I have no doubt that the increase in the amount of sick leave taken in 2015 is directly as a result of the working environment of prison staff. It is a really onerous job. I do not practise criminal law but I have been in a few prisons to represent family law clients and have spoken to the staff there and know the pressures they are under. It is absolutely vital that the Department provide resources for prison staff in order to keep them going because we are all human beings. I know, even from dealing with the area of law with which I dealt - criminal law is a whole other ballgame - that the working environment in the latter is extremely stressful. This must be the paramount consideration. Are the services Ms McCaffrey outlined available now or is it a plan-----