Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason procedures are not in place in order to enable skilled and qualified Irish prison wardens from other countries, including the UK, to be able to return here and apply for the Irish Prison Service while having their experience recognised during the process, in view of the fact at present all applicants, skilled and unskilled, must go through the same process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8874/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that a competition for Recruit Prison Officer was advertised by the Public Appointments Service in 2016 with a closing date of 28 July 2016. The terms and conditions for this competition were set out in the booklet for the competition.

Any person interested in the role of Recruit Prison Officer is required to go through the recruitment process which was provided for in the booklet. The Irish Prison Service does not give preference to individuals who may have served in the role of prison officer in other jurisdictions. It is of course open to such individuals, where possible, to use whatever experience or skills they may have acquired abroad in the course of the recruitment process.

During the competency based interview candidates can draw on their experience from whatever context, be it in a similar role elsewhere or other unrelated role.