John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action she will take to ensure the safety of prison officers who are now being videoed by some members of the public using mobile telephones while on prisoner escort duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21751/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that escorts of prisoners, primarily to court and hospital appointments, undertaken by prison officers are by their nature conducted in the view of the general public.

It is not considered that the recording of staff conducting such escort duties poses any new or undue threat to any prison officer.

Staff safety is a priority for the Irish Prison Service and in this regard they have recently acted upon a State Claims Agency recommendation to standardise escort practices across the prison estate. This standard provides all staff with the requisite safety equipment and requires specific risk assessments for any escorts deemed to be in the category High Risk.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that prison officers are being disciplined for not wearing full uniform while escorting prisoners to hospitals and so on in spite of the fact that there is not a sufficient number of stab proof vests, batons and radios to cover all prison officers on escorts each day; if she will authorise an audit of all of the prisons to ensure that this issue is addressed without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21752/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that the wearing of uniform on Escort Duties is required by the IPS Escort Standard. All prisons are supplied with the appropriate amount of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that they request or indicate is needed i.e. stab proof vests, batons, radios etc. Such PPE is only authorised for use on High Risk escorts, and this only after a risk assessment (HIRARC) is completed. I am also advised that no disciplinary code is ongoing for the non wearing of full uniform while conducting escorts to hospitals.