Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Deputies will be aware, the strip searching regime has been the subject of a complaint by prisoners. It is an issue which both I and my officials have raised in discussions with the appropriate authorities in the North. The Stocktake report recommended the current policy for searching prisoners when exiting and entering the prison be reviewed, particularly in cases where prisoners were going for a medical or health examination. This has been accepted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, saying discretion can be applied. Prisoners are no longer routinely subject to full body search when leaving the prison on home leave or discharge from custody.

I am aware the Deputies have been briefed by the ICRC on some of these issues raised here. I too am disappointed that the forum recommendations did not proceed. The first chair proposed in December 2014 was Mr. Tom Miller. That proposal was not acceptable to the prisoners. This led to some delay, after which the ICRC agreed, over the summer of 2015, to its person in Belfast taking on the role.

That person engaged with both prison management and prisoners to see if an agreed agenda could be found. In the event, it did not prove possible. Since then, there have been several meetings among stakeholders to see how matters might be moved forward. Since then, we have seen a number of changes in key personnel and people, including the Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive, the ICRC in Belfast, and management in Maghaberry jail. Shortly, there will be a change in the matter of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

At this stage, it would be premature to speculate as to what new people will bring to the discussion. Both I and my officials will continue to raise these issues with the importance of moving forward on the Stocktake report.

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