Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Whelan for raising this issue and affording me the opportunity to address the House and outline some details and factual points relating to the issues he mentioned and the staffing of the Prison Service. I want to acknowledge the work that is done by everyone in the prison system and many of the reforms that have been carried out in recent times. I pay tribute to everybody who has been involved in that regard.

I refer to staff numbers. The factual position is that prisoner numbers have reduced by 814, or 18%, since February 2011. We have had a 3% reduction in prison staff over the same period. As I have said, I accept the point that significant reform has been implemented in the Prison Service. That has served to modernise the service and anyone who visits our prisons can see that. We have also had quite serious capital investment in our prisons, which is ongoing and has led to significant improvements, something which is acknowledged not just nationally, but internationally. The goal has been to modernise the service so that it operates in the most effective and efficient way possible while allowing the service to operate with reduced staffing levels and ensure the safety of all prison service personnel. I will say more on that shortly.

I want to pay tribute to all involved in these important changes. The driving force behind the progress made to date has been the constructive engagement and consultation between management and the Prison Officers' Association on all aspects of the reform process under the joint task reviews, as has been agreed under the Croke Park agreement.

I have heard what the Senator had to say and I want to see the constructive engagement and consultation continue. It would be in the interests of everybody who works in the service and the country, as well as having a properly functioning Prison Service. I have discussed this matter with management and IPS management is fully committed to ensuring that staff have a safe and dignified environment in which to work in order to carry out their important duties. They have to take difficult decisions and I acknowledge that. Much of the work is based on critical risk assessment on an ongoing basis by all involved.

A key commitment in the strategic plan of the Irish Prison Service for 2012 to 2014 is the dignity at work programme. It was a major change programme concerned with improving the workplace to the benefit of staff. A number of areas have been addressed under that, including communication, professional development, training, equality and diversity, well-being at work and acceptable behaviour. There have been quite a number of initiatives under this programme, including a well-being at work policy, a framework to promote the well-being of staff; the establishment of local workplace forums; and improving communication and consultation with front-line staff. That is what I want to see happening and what will lead to the best workplace atmosphere and situation for all concerned.

I want to recognise those achievements, but the fact remains that significant savings and reforms, as set out in the Haddington Road agreement, have yet to be achieved to ensure that the sector delivers on its commitments. As the Senator knows, there is a whole-of-Government approach to that agreement and making sure that what was agreed is delivered. How we move forward in respect of the outstanding issues is probably the crux of the matter.

A number of implementation issues have arisen in respect of the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements in recent months, but I assure the Senator that management has at all times continued to engage with the Prison Officers' Association on these issues through the well-established mechanisms contained within those agreements, which provide the appropriate framework for parties to address and resolve issues of implementation as they arise, including extensive discussions under the chairmanship of the LRC.I am keeping these matters under review and under discussion with the director general of the Irish Prison Service, IPS, and his management team. I have had contact with the general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association in which I reaffirmed the commitment of IPS management to continuing to engage with the association. The Senator said in his opening remarks that the Prison Officers' Association was not afraid of reform or change and I welcome that comment. I repeat that management is committed to working with the association. I want to see a continuation of the engagement and consultation which has been taking place.

The Senator used some phrases relating to the management position which are not accurate. I do believe management is interested in fair play and working with the association and I do not want to see further confrontation between prison officers and management. I would like to see both sides engaging and working together constructively to bring about a resolution of the outstanding issues under the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to deal with the issues and to outline the situation from my perspective.