James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I absolutely understand that the loss of family contact has an impact on prisoners. This is something which has affected people across society over the last year as a result of Covid. I agree that prisoners having contact with family helps with stability and can result in better outcomes upon release. I also agree that having to choose which two members will attend a visit will put some families in a very difficult situation but this has been necessary across all of our services. We have seen it in nursing homes as well. Very difficult choices have had to be made. I will certainly encourage the IPS to introduce any flexibility it can while allowing for health considerations and concerns.

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