Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State will be aware that the Prison Officers Association, whose annual conference is taking place at the moment, has drawn attention to the difficulties caused by the activities of gangland figures in prison where they are replicating many of the activities in which they have been involved on the outside. This has very real consequences for the compliant prison population who are living in a climate of fear and for the victims of crime on the outside in the following way. I know of cases of compliant prisoners being compelled by threats to bring in drugs, weaponry and mobile phones. I am aware of cases where following threats against themselves and their families on the outside, they have been forced to secret some of these materials in their cells.

This climate of fear and intimidation is enabling people to be involved in crime while still in prison. They are enabled, particularly by the availability of mobile phones, to be able organise activities outside while they are supposed to be in prison. I know of cases where very serious crimes were committed up to and including murder, which were largely organised within prison walls.

Since many of these gangs are feuding with each other, segregation is now necessary in most prisons. At the moment nearly 400 prisoners are locked up for periods of up to 23 hours a day. More than 900 prisoners are in protective custody. Those numbers represent an enormous proportion of the prison population as a whole - possibly the highest in the world. These people need such special treatment because of the gangland situation inside the prison walls.

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