Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has insisted that more stringent security measures must be implemented in Irish prisons if the integrity of the service is to be maintained.
In an address to the annual conference of the Prison Officers’ Association today, Mr Lenihan said gang violence, organised crime and the problems of drugs in the community posed serious challenges to the prison environment.
He said a package of Government-approved measures, including special search sections and canine units would improve safety for prison officers and prisoners.
“Maintaining a stringent prison security regime will always be a challenge; but to protect the integrity of the prison system, we must succeed,” he said.
A dispute between the Irish Prison Service and prison officers erupted last year over the new security arrangements.
Prison officers staged two one-hour work stoppages in December in protest at plans to search them before they clocked in for duty.
But it was later agreed by both sides that officers will clock in before being processed through the new search mechanism.
In his speech, Mr Lenihan said the Government had invested significant capital funds in the Prison Service - some €222 million over the last five years.
This has facilitated, he said, a major refurbishment of buildings and construction of new facilities across the prison estate, including a new block at Limerick Prison and more prisons spaces due to come on line at Wheatfield, Portlaoise and Castlerea within the next year.
“This will provide sufficient prison spaces until the new green field prisons at Thornton Hall and Munster come on line in the longer term,” he said.