TECHNOLOGY THAT blocks mobile phone signals in prisons is not fully operational almost a year after the Irish Prison Service said most jails would be covered.
Fine Gael’s justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan TD said “serious criminals continue to run their businesses from within the four walls of our prisons” despite assurances that most jails would be covered in the first weeks of this year.
He said the prisons service gave a “firm commitment” in September 2008 that jails would be covered by the new technology within the following four months.
In reply to a Dáil question from Mr Flanagan, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said the systems introduced to date in four prisons were still seen as pilot projects and only partially working.
He said the Irish Prison Service was dealing with the problem not only by introducing signal-blocking technology, but also via strict new search regimes of visitors, inmates and staff.
An enhanced system of cell searches, during which thousands of phones have been found in recent years, had also been introduced.
Systems that block the signals needed to operate mobile phones had been introduced in four jails. “ systems are currently undergoing a rigorous evaluation process which includes external independent analysis.
“The systems in Midlands, Mountjoy and Limerick prisons are still live and working with varying degrees of success. The inhibition system at Portlaoise is still under development involving refinement of software which is unique and site specific.”