Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to share time with Deputy Wallace. There is much that is positive in this development but there is a "but". It relates to the number of reports, rules and recommendations relating to single-cell occupancy. European prison rule 18.1 on accommodation states that it "shall respect human dignity and, as far as possible, privacy, and meet the requirements of health and hygiene". It further states that prisoners "shall normally be accommodated during the night in individual cells except where it is preferable for them to share sleeping accommodation" and that if they are sharing it should be with prisoners who are suitable to each other.

The Whitaker report from 1985 is critical of our penal system. The report set out basic living conditions and states, "Normally (and always where a prisoner so desires) private sleeping accommodation in a single cell" should be provided. In 1985 almost all prisoners were in single cells but today some 60% of prisoners are sharing cells. The former governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan, also stressed the importance of single-cell accommodation and the need for personal space. In 1994 the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform referred to providing additional places to eliminate doubling up.

When the Minister announced the plan for this prison he said it would eliminate the practice of prisoners having to slop out. He also make a point about adequate and suitable accommodation. That was taken to mean that there would be a commitment to single-cell accommodation, which equates to international best practice.

Allied to single-cell occupancy is the issue of personal hygiene. It is welcome that the new building will mean an end to slopping out in the prison in Cork because of in-cell sanitation. However unless the section is walled off there will be no privacy when it comes to using the toilet. I understand that people are in prison because they have done wrong and we are not suggesting hotel accommodation, but it is an insult to human dignity to expect a person to use the toilet in front of another person. In November 2011 the Minister reported that there were 1,885 prisoners using the toilet in the presence of others. We do not carry out normal human activities such as eating, studying, reading and watching television in the same place as we use the toilet.

Sharing creates other problems, including an increase in violence and intimidation. I am heartbroken when I see young men from Dublin 1 and Dublin 7, who contribute greatly to the prison population, go in drug-free but come out addicted to drugs because of who they had to share cells with. I share the concerns of those in the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice and their disappointment that this plan includes provision for doubling up. They see it as a retrograde step and a breach of international best practice.

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