Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that on 25 July 2023 I secured Government approval for drafting of the Irish Prison Service Bill 2023. I subsequently referred the General Scheme of the Bill to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny, as part of which the Committee convened a discussion on the Scheme on 3 October 2023.

The proposed Bill will cement the position of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) as a State body with defined functions and responsibilities, provide it with best practice governance supports, and set out clear lines of statutory authority and accountability for the management of the prison system. This includes establishing the position of Director General of the IPS as a statutory office with formal authority and accountability to match the responsibilities of the role. The Bill will designate the Director General as the Accounting Officer for the Prisons Vote and as the Appropriate Authority for staff of the IPS within the meaning of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005.

The Bill will further provide for the establishment of a non-executive Board to provide the IPS with guidance and oversight in matters of internal governance and the development and implementation of corporate strategy. The Bill will also provide for the establishment of a dedicated audit committee and other expert committees of the Board as required. These new structures will ensure that the IPS has the benefit of expert guidance and oversight in implementing the Government’s penal policy reform programme, in managing capital projects and in ensuring the highest standards of governance and accountability in the prison system. This will complement the primarily human rights-focused oversight already provided by external entities such as the Inspector of Prisons, the Prison Visiting Committees, and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

The Bill will expressly preserve the overall authority of the Minister for Justice in matters of strategy and policy. The provision of prison capacity and related decisions on capital investment will remain firmly as matters for decision by the Minister and the Government.

As stated previously to the Deputy, I am confident that the proposed Bill will ensure that the IPS is best positioned to fulfil its vital mandate into the future. This ultimately will help to shape better outcomes for prisoners, staff and communities alike.

For further information please access the link to Draft General Scheme of an Irish Prison Service Bill 2023 - d783a461-829a-4311-909d-9e5430fd6fec.pdf (www.gov.ie)