Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the increasing tensions in Maghaberry Prison arising from the fact that the agreement which was to be implemented in relation to controlled movement, strip searching and other contentious issues, which gave rise to a 15-month dirty protest two years ago, has not been implemented; if he has conveyed to the Northern Ireland Justice Minister and British Government that these issues have major potential to lead to a destabilisation of the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23124/14]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

26. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Justice Minister the deteriorating morale in Maghaberry Prison due to unrest surrounding prison conditions; the wider impact this may have on the stability of communities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23207/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 26 together.

I refer the Deputies to my earlier reply to Priority Question No 3. I also refer the Deputies to the written answers I gave yesterday to Questions Nos. 55 and 64 in relation to these matters.

If the Deputies wish I can repeat my answer to that question:

Policing, prisons and overall criminal justice policy have been the responsibility of the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland, David Ford MLA, since the devolution of Policing and Justice in 2010. The Irish government has a close and excellent working relationship with Minister Ford and his Department and co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI to combat criminal and terrorist activity is excellent. As Minister for Foreign Affairs I very much value my engagement with Minister Ford and our exchanges cover a wide range of issues. Since 2010, the Irish Government’s primary responsibility is to ensure the justice systems which are in place are robust and consistent with the principles and values of the Good Friday Agreement and the other agreements for which we are co-guarantors.

Prison policy forms a central part of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice’s remit and an executive agency, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, implements prison policy in that jurisdiction. A Prisoner Ombudsman is also appointed by Minister Ford and the Ombudsman operates entirely independently of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. The Prisoner Ombudsman and his team investigate complaints from prisoners and visitors to prisoners in Northern Ireland as well as deaths in custody. I wholeheartedly agree with Minister Ford’s analysis that delivery of a reformed justice system has a major part to play in building a more positive future for Northern Ireland. I commend the work underway to give effect to the far reaching recommendations related to prison reform in Northern Ireland contained in Dame Anne Owers 2011 report. The Government’s position continues to be that the full implementation of all of the recommendations of the Owers Report remains the most effective way to ensure that conditions within all prisons in Northern Ireland are of an acceptable standard. Minister Ford and I have discussed this and are of one mind on this matter.

A central aspect of my engagement with Minister Ford is the Irish government’s absolute support for the men and women of the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Prison service in their work to support the rule of law and a new beginning for justice in Northern Ireland. The men and women in these essential public services face persistent and severe threats to their lives and wellbeing from those who are enemies of the peace process. People who threaten and have acted to murder harm and threaten police and prison officers act in defiance of the criminal law. They also defy the sovereign will of the Irish people who freely endorsed the principles and values of Good Friday Agreement in an all island referendum just over 16 years ago on May 22 1998. I call on all the Irish republicans who try to justify threats against public servants to listen to the people. It is long since past time to end violence, the door is open to join the rest of us who seek change through dialogue, persuasion and the ballot box. The Irish people have chosen peace – you should heed their will.

As previously indicated in this House, the arrangements agreed for the devolution of Policing and Justice in 2010, include a role for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in national security matters. I am aware that such prisoner cases have had resonance historically in communities here and abroad. My officials in the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast continue to monitor prisoner cases which arise from the exercise of such competences. As the House will know, I have on a number of occasions raised the Government’s perspective on humanitarian issues in certain cases directly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Such issues are part of my regular and comprehensive discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as we work together to guarantee that peace, policing and power sharing is supported by all of us, all of the time.