Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the Leader will respond to Senator Darragh O'Brien's request, but I point out that we will be discussing Senator Sean D. Barrett's Bill on mortgage credit during Private Member's time this evening, which will give us an opportunity to discuss this very important issue. I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien regarding the comments of Ms Fiona Muldoon, to which other colleagues referred in the House yesterday, including Senator Aideen Hayden.

I call for a debate on prison conditions. We have sought such a debate in this House before and I know the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality is examining the issue. A debate is called for in the light of the very disturbing report published yesterday on St. Patrick's Institution. The report by the Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, is an appalling indictment of the conditions and regime in place for young offenders in that institution. Some of the most worrying and disturbing findings concern serious allegations of intimidation and bullying, serious incidents when young men were stripped and cut by prison officers and situations where children were held in 24-hour lock-up for several months at a time. It is absolutely appalling, although it comes as no surprise to many of us who have been aware for a long time, following the presentation of other reports, that conditions in St. Patrick's Institution are dreadful. The Government has already committed to ending the detention in that instution of children, that is, those under 18 years, but I am really glad that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, have now said they will close the institution as a place of detention for those under 21. That is a very important commitment to make. The Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Mr. Michael Donnellan, has said that since the report was prepared, action has been taken and a new governor appointed. That is all hugely important, but when members of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality visited the prison recently, it was an anodyne and cleaned-up version of the institution that was presented to us. In that context, I am concerned to ensure the abuse of young people in the institution is not continuing. The point is made in the report that of the 190 prison officers in the institution, only a small number were involved in the aforementioned practices and Mr. Donnellan has said action has been taken against them. However, it is important that we are assured that the appalling practices in the prison are at an end. I am very glad that St. Patrick's Institution is finally going to be closed. It should have been closed a long time ago.

I look forward to a debate, after the referendum, on children's rights more generally, for which the Leader has committed to having the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs present. We have just come from the launch of the Labour Party referendum campaign, at which we heard articulate and eloquent presentations by two children, both aged around 15 years, who made a very strong case for supporting the referendum proposal. It is important that those of us on the "Yes" side are not complacent and that we are conscious of the fact that a "No" campaign will be launched. It will actually be quite helpful in generating debate and ensuring plenty of discussion on the airwaves and in public fora because it will be crucial to have a high turnout on 10 November.