Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy on physical contact between prisoners and visitors at Cloverhill Prison; if flexibility will be shown in cases where visitors cannot hear the prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30745/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the norm in Cloverhill Prison is that, with the exception of professional visits, all visitors are separated from prisoners by a screen. There are specific visiting booths, equipped with telephones, which are available to prisoners or visitors who experience hearing difficulties. This policy is, in my view, an important tool in preventing contraband from entering the prison system. The Governor of Cloverhill Prison does, however, have the discretion to authorise special open visits having had regard to a number of factors such as the behaviour of a prisoner and the individual circumstances of any particular prisoner or visitor including facilitating persons with hearing difficulties.