Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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436. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans in the event of a strike by the Prison Officers Association; if the Irish Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána will guard the prisons; if so, have all personnel received adequate training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11195/15]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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521. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to resolve the threatened industrial action by prison officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12147/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 521 together.

A number of implementation issues have arisen in respect of the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements in recent months and IPS management have at all times continued to engage with the Prison Officers Association on these issues through the well established mechanisms contained within those agreements.

The National Oversight Group for the Haddington Road Agreement recently met with both the IPS and the POA. On foot of that meeting, the group noted that both parties affirmed their commitment to the agreement they reached in the Haddington Road Agreement (Appendix 1) to secure savings of €12.42 million, and to work together with the priority of delivering measures which will secure those savings. In addition, the group requested that all parties should take all steps necessary to maintain industrial peace and normal working until all procedures on the matters under discussion have been exhausted.

In this context, I wish to advise the Deputy that both IPS management and the Prison Officers Association both accepted an invitation to attend talks at the Labour Relations Commission and these talks are currently ongoing. As a consequence, the Prison Officers Association have advised that they have suspended their intention to commence a 'Work to Rule' scheduled to begin on 26 March 2015.

I believe that constructive engagement between the parties is the way forward and I would strongly urge the Prison Officer's Association to continue to work in a collaborative manner within the industrial relations machinery to resolve any issues of dispute in order to ensure that the Service continues to deliver on its mission of providing safe and secure custody, dignity of care and rehabilitation to prisoners for safer communities.

I am advised by my officials that a high level Contingency Group within the IPS continues to formulate contingencies in the event of all-out industrial action. The Deputy will appreciate that for obvious security reasons I cannot go into detail as to what those contingencies might entail, however I can confirm that talks between my officials and senior management in both an Garda Síochána and the Permanent Defence Forces are ongoing in order to ensure that the security of the prison estate is maintained in the event of industrial action.

Finally, I can further advise the Deputy that training of relevant staff in an Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces has commenced and is ongoing, including familiarisation visits to prisons and also training in prison process and procedures and security matters.