Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very interested in the Minister's response. The Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Mr. Michael Donellan, has expressed concern about the number of prisoners who are serving their term or part thereof in isolation. On 1 July 2013, we were informed that 114 prisoners at risk were being held in isolation for 23 hours per day and a further 61 inmates were being held behind bars for 22 hours per day. The position is inhumane by any stretch of the imagination. The Minister referred to prisoners at risk. Do any other categories of prisoners find themselves in the circumstances described? What would be an effective alternative to the current position?

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