Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I thank both Deputies for putting the case for prisoners' in Maghaberry Prison so succinctly.

The Government is aware of a number of concerns which have been expressed regarding human rights conditions of prisoners currently being held in Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland. The Tánaiste has raised the issue with authorities in Northern Ireland on a number of occasions, most recently on 27 April with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, and on 20 April with the Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Assembly, David Ford.

There are a number of ongoing issues concerning a group of prisoners held in a separated prisoners' regime in Maghaberry. This group has been on dirty protest since May 2011 over conditions and practices in the prison, particularly the use of full body searches. This is a highly contentious and emotive issue and I understand that concerted efforts have been made to facilitate an agreement which would see a regime put in place acceptable to all parties. Recent incidents in Maghaberry Prison have made these efforts more difficult, as any agreement would need to balance the security concerns of the prison authorities with the issues raised by the prisoners.

I welcome the recent announcement by Minister Ford that full body scanner devices are to be used in a trial pilot scheme in Maghaberry Prison. The use of such technology might address the concerns of prisoners regarding a full body search regime.

In a wider context, huge progress has been made by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Prison Service in relation to implementing the recommendations of the Owers report for prison reform. This report outlined a series of reforms which will fundamentally change how prisons are operated and organised in Northern Ireland. The report team undertook a 360 degree review of the prison system and had a very strong focus on how best to protect the human rights of prisoners. Minister Ford, in a recent conversation with the Tánaiste, spoke positively of how the implementation of the report's recommendations was progressing and there is no doubt as to his commitment to reforming the prison services to the benefit of all stakeholders. The full implementation of the Owers report will be the most effective way to ensure that human rights of all prisoners in Northern Ireland, not just in Maghaberry Prison, are fully observed.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials have been instructed to continue to monitor any further developments on these issues. The Government will continue to take an active interest in this subject and will make appropriate representations where necessary.

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