Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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20. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his engagement with the British Secretary of State and Northern Ireland authorities, regarding the ongoing issues in Maghaberry Prison; and his views that the serious tensions in the prison have to be addressed in a fair and equitable way. [8241/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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This is a repeat of my answer to Question no. 11. There has been an increase in tensions in the prison in recent weeks. This is due in part to the issuing of threats by prisoners against Prison Service officials in a context where a serving prison officer, David Black, was murdered by dissidents in November 2012. It is also related to recent construction work in Roe House intended to increase the space available to prisoners in the separated regime for association. However, it appears the well meaning intentions behind the works were not effectively communicated in advance to inmates.

A protest by a small number of prisoners on 2 February ended with both the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice, David Ford, and the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Sue McAllister, reporting no injuries to staff or prisoners. I am aware that some prisoners have said that they were injured during the protest. Members of the independent assessment team have since met with prisoners and prison management to hear their perspectives on the protest and on how best to take things forward.

Despite the increase in tension, I take some encouragement from renewed calls by both the Northern Ireland Prison Service and prisoner representatives for the full implementation of the stocktake report. It is important that this work continue with the good will and support of all the relevant stake holders. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the report’s recommendations. It would certainly facilitate progress if all threats against those working in the prison administration were lifted. All such threats are completely unacceptable, and serve only to frustrate the process of improving the atmosphere in the prison. The independent assessment group continues with their engagement, to encourage the implementation of their recommendations, and would be open to a meeting with the Deputy to discuss on-going concerns. I have discussed prison issues with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on a number of occasions, most recently on 11 February. I also met in January with a member of the independent assessment group which completed the stocktake Report of September 2014. My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continuously monitor the situation at Maghaberry Prison, including through contact with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Office and officials in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, as well as members of the independent assessment group, and have been keeping me closely informed of developments.