Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to allow children held in St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin, access to an independent complaints mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35660/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 provides for a visiting committee to be constituted for every prison in the State and one of the statutory duties of such committees is to hear any complaints which may be made to them by a prisoner. Under new legislation to be prepared, I intend to make Visiting Committees more effective while they continue their role. The arrangements for membership of the Committees will be changed and a link will be established between the Visiting Committees and the Inspector of Prisons.

I should add that the Inspector of Prisons makes announced and unannounced visits to all prisons including St. Patrick's Institution throughout the year. He has shown a particular interest in juvenile prisons systems and has published inspection standards for juvenile offenders in St. Patrick's as a supplement to his general inspection standards.

There are also procedures within the Irish Prison Service (IPS) for the investigation of complaints by prisoners. I am not satisfied that the existing IPS procedures are sufficiently robust and independent of the local staff to meet best practice for the investigation of serious complaints. It is my intention to bring forward amendments to the Prison Rules 2007 which will introduce an independent element to the investigation. I have recently asked the Inspector of Prisons to give consideration to this matter and to advise me as to the most appropriate approach to be taken in an Irish context so as to ensure compliance with best practice. The Inspector's views will then be taken into account in relation to the framing of the amended Rules in this regard.