Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

——a situation where the Garda has to come in. There has to be discretion, but obviously in relation to serious offences the Garda should be called. It is a matter of judgment for the individual governor as to whether it is appropriate to bring the Garda in, because prisoners can be punished for minor infractions and for major infractions. A prisoner, for instance, who is found in possession of an improvised weapon, technically commits an offence under the law relating to offensive weapons. That prisoner might just be sent to Cork prison to spend three weeks there in a secure facility. It is a matter of choice for the governor to determine which way he or she will operate.

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