Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Harte, as did other Senators, set out a very strong defence of Government policy on justice. Senator Bradford, very helpfully, pointed out that the attitude of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to the Seanad has been extremely positive. He has initiated a large number of Bills in this Chamber, probably more than most other Ministers. Let me say that his record on penal reform and on prison policy has been strong. The Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, gave us information on the investment in prisons. As a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, I visited Mountjoy Prison recently and have seen the roll out of in-cell sanitation, the installation of new shower blocks and the great improvement in prison conditions for prisoners and staff. There is a new reception area for prisoners who are coming into prison. Some very important innovations have been undertaken by the Minister. In addition, he has established a working group on penal policy which I know will come up with really useful reforms of prison policy. I know the committee report on penal reform will feed into it. The Minister for Justice and Equality is genuinely reforming the system, particularly in penal reform, an issue which is close to me.