Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure regarding the official use of handcuffs within the Irish Prison Service; and if there are approved methods for same. [7590/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the official use of handcuffs within the Irish Prison Service (IPS) comes under Rule 65 of Prison Rules 2007.

I am further advised by my officials in the IPS that there are approved methods for such use. All staff are trained upon induction into the Service and refresher training is carried out periodically on a regular basis.

The use of handcuffs on prisoners escorted outside of prisons (appearance in court, hospital appointments) has been standardised in all prisons since 2017 and is utilised following risk assessments of each such escort.