Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the arrangements which have been made for personal visits by families to prisoners at Christmas due to the Covid 19 crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41112/20]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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This has been a very difficult year for many but it has been particularly challenging for prison management, prison staff and prisoners. I compliment the staff of the Irish Prison Service, IPS, on the way in which Covid was kept out of the prisons. I also recognise the co-operation of prisoners who have been deprived of visits, and many other things in the prisons, as a result. What arrangements have been made to allow for prison visits over the Christmas period to happen in as generous and humane a way as possible, while remaining consonant with public health advice?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Deputy's concern and thank him for raising this important issue.  I am assured that every effort has been made by the IPS to continue physical visits during this pandemic.  As the Deputy is aware, it was necessary to suspend physical visits to prisons, first in March and again in October, following public health guidance.  The service is acutely aware of the need for prisoners to maintain contact with their families and a new video visit system was introduced which has allowed families to continue to support those in custody. Feedback on the use of this system has been generally positive.  I understand that additional phone calls have been also been facilitated.

The IPS has announced arrangements to allow all those in custody to book a physical family visit between 16 December and 6 January.  Each prisoner will be entitled to one physical visit, limited to two people, which will be limited to 15 minutes in duration.  I understand this time limit is necessary to ensure that the maximum number of visits can be facilitated, having regard to the need to reduce the number of booths in use for distancing purposes and the need to fully sanitise surfaces between visitors.  All visitors will be behind clear screens and visitors and prisoners will be required to wear face masks at all times. No physical contact will be permitted. All visitors will also be subject to the Covid-19 screening procedures which have been in place since March and visitors are requested not to attend if they have any symptoms, if they have been in contact with a person who has gone for testing, if they themselves have tested positive for Covid and have yet to be cleared by their doctor or if they have been abroad in the preceding fortnight.

I understand that this is very difficult for the families concerned, particularly after such a difficult year.  However, the IPS has worked tirelessly to safeguard prisoners and staff and this continues to be the primary consideration.  We are all hoping next year will be a very different year but for now the IPS must continue to ensure that the prison population is protected from the virus and it is continuing to make use of alternative means of keeping prisoners and their families connected. Prisoners will continue to be able to avail of 20-minute video visits and additional daily phone calls are also being facilitated during the Christmas period.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I realise the health challenges involved. It is a question of balance. I recognise that video visits have been made available, although there have been some gremlins with that system. It is certainly a help but, all as all of us have discovered in our own lives, video visits, Skype and so on are no substitute for personal contact. We are also aware that one of the big losses involved in being in prison is the loss of family contact. This has been exacerbated this year. We also know that good family contact can also have an effect on outcomes for prisoners after they leave prison.

The Minister of State said that two people will be allowed per visit, one of whom will obviously be an adult. If there are two or three children in a family, that family will be placed in an invidious situation. I imagine that the number of prisoners with children is not equal to the total prison population. Can anything be done to introduce some flexibility because it seems that this will be very difficult for people at this very special time of the year?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to hear the Minister of State say that because I believe flexibility is what we need. Not all situations are the same. There is not the same pressure in all prisons regarding visits. In the context of the health issue, I would make the case that the risk presented by two members of a family who live together is no different than the risk presented by three. If they live together, one would imagine that whatever one catches, the others do. The humane thing would be to make arrangements for children to be allowed visit over the Christmas period in both the male and female prisons. If prisoners require multiple visits, which people who do not have children will not, that should be facilitated. We are asking parents to make invidious choices between children. As I have said, not every prisoner has children. Many do not.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I again thank the Deputy. As I have said, if any flexibility can be allowed, I will certainly encourage the IPS to allow it. It will, of course, have to consider both the practical difficulties and the difficulties arising from Covid and the public health advice, which must be followed. This will obviously result in a very difficult situation for the families concerned, especially where young children are involved. It is difficult to be separated from one's family at any time but it will be even more difficult for those prisoners and their families at Christmas. I understand that the IPS will be facilitating temporary release for a small cohort of prisoners, as is the normal practice. Applications are currently being considered in that regard. With regard to the mental health of prisoners, the Minister is working very hard to try to improve the supports available to prisoners not only in the short term but also in the long term.