Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action which has been taken to prevent the running of crime syndicates or associated activities from within the prison system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31066/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am aware of reports which suggest that prisoners are running criminal syndicates from inside prison cells. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to implementing all appropriate measures to prevent the possibility of such activity and to ensure that the contact that prisoners have with the outside world is tightly controlled and monitored.

Prisoner visits in all closed prisons are carefully controlled and held in sight of prison officers. In addition, new Visiting Card arrangements are in place in almost all closed prisons whereby only persons who have been pre-approved by the Governor are permitted to visit. Telephone calls in closed prisons are monitored by prison officers and incoming and outgoing mail is subject to examination by a prison censor. In addition, there is regular contact between the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána to discuss security issues and I can advise the Deputy that Gardaí will be contacted whenever any suspected criminal offence has taken place.

One of the major challenges in prisons today lies in preventing access to contraband items, primarily mobile phones and drugs, which for obvious reasons, are viewed as highly valuable commodities which could assist in illegal activity from the prisoner cells. Efforts are made on a continuous basis to prevent the flow of such contraband into our prisons, by for example, the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, upgraded CCTV monitoring, the use of screened visits and the use of daily prisoner and cell searches. In addition, the Prison Service are currently examining technological options for dealing with the use of mobile phones within prisons.

Random searches of cells and their occupants and searching of correspondence and other items have all intercepted significant quantities of contraband in recent years. When a person is admitted to prison custody, he or she is searched and prohibited items and money are taken. Similarly, searching takes place of prisoners returning from court, temporary release or visits. Searches of prisoners also take place where their behaviour or information received raises suspicions that they may be in possession of contraband. The new prison estates at Thornton Hall and Spike Island will also make it harder for contraband to enter the prison over the perimeter walls by means of locating recreation yards away from perimeter walls.