John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Last week Senator John Whelan referred to the plight of prison officers and the difficulties they were experiencing with the Irish Prison Service. The Irish Prison Service is proposing to rationalise and make working conditions more unsafe for prison officers. A planned ballot is to be held tomorrow. Since Senator John Whelan raised the issue last week, three more prison officers were assaulted last weekend. There would be no need for a ballot if Irish Prison Service representatives agreed to meet the Prison Officers Association to engage and resolve the issues involved. Will the Leader find out from the Minister for Justice and Equality what her plans are should prison officers vote tomorrow to go on strike?