Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, if people have suffered a serious injury in the course of their work and they are capable of doing lighter work but not capable of ever doing the full restraint and control that is required in prison, they are in limbo. I am well aware of the situation from reading the reply to one of the parliamentary questions I asked last year on temporary rehabilitation and remuneration. The Minister stated that while the Irish Prison Service endeavours to provide reasonable accommodation, which Mr. Culliton has mentioned, within the constraints provided in the prison environment, it should be noted there is no onus on the service to provide such accommodation, and this is reflected in the employment equality legislation in section 37 of the 1988 Act. I am again hearing about all these lovely schemes, but when push comes to shove, there is no onus to facilitate an officer injured in the course of his or her work.