Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had a meeting with the independent chair of the prison forum in Maghaberry Prison; if not, when he plans meeting with the chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45033/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I met last Friday with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford MLA. Among the issues we discussed was the situation in Maghaberry prison, including the regime for separated prisoners.

My last meeting with Secretary of State Theresa Villiers was on 17 November, as we concluded the negotiation of the 'Fresh Start' Agreement. We will meet again before the end of the month, when I will again raise the situation in Maghaberry with her.

At our recent meeting, Minister Ford updated me on progress in implementing the recommendations of the recent report by Criminal Justice Inspector, Brendan McGuigan, into conditions in the prison. The Criminal Justice Inspector will return to Maghaberry in January to monitor progress. I expressed my concerns at the deficiencies identified in the prison, which affect the entire prison population and, also, prison staff, and not just those in the separated regime.

Minister Ford and I also discussed follow-up on the recommendations of the Independent Assessment Team report on the conditions in the prison's separated wing. Minister Ford noted that while there had been some progress, full implementation had been affected by trust issues arising, in part, from the sense of threat to staff. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has said that it remains committed to implementing the recommendations of the stocktake report but only in “an environment where staff are free from threat and intimidation”.

Among the challenges we discussed were the obstacles to the operation of the Prison Forum, which since July 2015 has been chaired by a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross. A functioning forum would make an important contribution to reducing tensions in Maghaberry.

My officials maintain regular contact with the Chair of the Prison Forum and also with the members of the Independent Assessment Team. Regrettably, due to the intensity of the political talks in Belfast, I had to postpone a meeting with the Chair scheduled for 29 October, who instead briefed my officials.