Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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471. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline any representations received from the Prison Officers' Association since 9 March 2011 regarding gangs and criminality in prisons; and the steps he has taken to address concerns raised. [22476/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am very aware of the concerns raised by the Prison Officers' Association regarding gangs and criminality in prisons, most recently at their Annual Delegate Conference earlier this month.

The emergence in recent years of criminal gangs has had significant implications for the management of Irish prisons. Rivalries and feuds which develop on the outside continue inside of prison. Prison management must ensure that the various factions are kept apart and, as far as possible, that gang members do not have influence over other inmates in the prisons or criminal activities on the outside.

Gang members are managed on a daily basis through segregation and separation throughout the prison system. Membership/allegiance of these criminal gangs fluctuates on a continuous basis with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a number of initiatives have been introduced with a view to preventing identified gang leaders from conducting criminal activities while in custody and also to prevent them exerting inappropriate influence over other persons. For example, the security initiatives undertaken by the Operational Security Group (OSG) have made it more difficult for prisoners to engage in illegal activities while in prison. These initiatives include the introduction of passive and active drug detection dogs and the installation of airport style security including scanners and x-ray machines. Core functions of this group include gathering and collating intelligence information on criminal gang members in custody, carrying out intelligence led searches and preventing the flow of contraband (including mobile phones) into the prisons.

In addition, there is regular contact between the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána to discuss security issues including the operation of criminal gangs. Gardaí are also provided with reports detailing the release dates of this category of prisoner.

Furthermore, the Risk Management of Offenders Group within the Irish Prison Service, which is comprised of Governors of all closed prisons and the Governor of the Operational Support Group, meet on a regular basis to share intelligence and decide in a strategic and collaborative fashion on the placement of leading gang members across the prison estate, having regard to the associated protection issues involved.