Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for her reply, and I understand why the Minister for Justice and Equality cannot be here. While I appreciate the work being done by prison staff and the experience they have built up, the Minister will understand that at the moment we are dealing with a particularly volatile situation. The prisons are crammed. I can understand the reason for that; I do not make any political point about it. For whatever reason, the prisons are full to bursting. In addition, there are now record numbers of gang members behind bars, and in Mountjoy Prison, one in every five prisoners is segregated or under some sort of protection, including 23-hour lock-up. Putting together those three factors, we have a combustible situation.

The Prison Officers' Association has recommended that an independent review be carried out to determine whether a cohesive approach can be taken. As the Minister of State is aware, the problem is being dealt with on an ad hoc basis; it is down to every prison officer or prison chief to handle each situation as he or she sees fit. I appreciate that there must be a certain amount of flexibility, but will the Government consider accepting the recommendation of the Prison Officers' Association that an independent review be carried out to bring some cohesion to the management of these problems within the prisons?

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