Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

92. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the production of a code of ethics for the Irish Prison Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25033/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service published its Strategic Plan 2016 - 2018 "Creating a Better Environment" on 27 June 2016. The aim of the Strategic Plan is to create a better environment in the Service by developing and progressing four key actions: Staff Support, Prisoner Support, Victim Support and Enhancing Organisation Capacity. In building the Strategy the Irish Prison Service was cognisant of the recommendations for cultural change set out by the Inspector of Prisons in his Report "Culture and Organisation in the Irish Prison Service - A Road Map for the future".

Staff Support is identified as a key Strategic Action the Irish Prison Service will take over the next three years. A key goal of the Strategic Plan is to create a work environment that is centred on dignity and respect with clear standards of behaviour and ethics in place for staff, management and the organisation. To progress this the Irish Prison Service will promote the Council of Europe Code of Ethics for Prison Staff and introduce an Acceptable Behaviour Standard. This will set out what is expected of each individual in relation to behaviour, what individuals have a right to expect in relation to the behaviours of others and the mechanisms to quickly and effectively resolve behavioural issues. This will result in guidance for staff in how prisons should be managed, how prisoners should be treated and how prison personnel should behave to achieve a culture where respect and decency are to the forefront.