Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the options open to a former prison officer regarding their discharge from service; the way they may have details of their case investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39729/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that in the absence of the specific details I can only comment in a general way. I can say however that there are a number of ways officers can leave the Prison Service: they can resign, retire, be retired on grounds of ill-health, on expiry of probationary contract or by termination of employment for breach of terms and conditions. Authority to terminate the employment of a prison officer rests with the Secretary General of my Department, a role previously exercised by Government, in accordance with civil service legislation. Prison officers whose employment is terminated may, in the first instance, write to the Secretary General of my Department outlining his/her circumstances. Any further investigations would depend on the merits of the case. Recourse may also be made to the various workplace relations bodies and the courts depending on the nature of the former prison officer’s complaint.