Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that sufficient staffing is provided at Mountjoy Prison to ensure that visitors to the prison are searched in order that drugs, knives, camera phones and so on are not smuggled in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23218/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Visitors are supervised to and from visiting areas and are monitored by CCTV and officers while on their visits. Physical contact is not allowed and where it is suspected that contraband has been passed the prisoner concerned will then be subject to searching procedures by staff specifically assigned for this purpose. Random searching of prisoners following visits also takes place on a daily basis.

When there is a suspicion that a visitor may have a prohibited article on their person a number of procedures then apply. For example, the visitor may be requested to comply with a search, they may be offered a "screened visit" or the Garda may be contacted when there is suspicion that an illegal item may be on their person. The Governor also has powers to ask the person to leave the prison if they refuse to comply with the request for a search. In addition, there is signage in the visitors centre, the Main Gate area and the visiting areas warning visitors of the possible consequences of passing contraband into or out of the prison. There have been a number of convictions of persons attempting to pass drugs to prisoners on such visits. Visitors suspected of passing contraband can also be refused future visits to the prisons.

I can also advise the Deputy that the staffing and rostering arrangements in place in all areas of Mountjoy Prison were subject to intensive examination prior to the introduction of the new annualised hours system. I am informed that there is sufficient cover built into the daily tasks to cover the visiting area in Mountjoy Prison.