The Prison Officer's Association (POA) has denounced Government plans to implement a cost-cutting package across the prison service.
Speaking at the POA's annual conference in Castlebar today, association president Gabriel Keaveney condemned Minister for Justice Michael McDowell's plans to privatise the prison escort service.
Mr Keaveney also called on the Minister to reverse his decision to close two prisons and privatise two open prisons. He said the decision to close the prisons was "a devastating blow".
The changes were introduced by Mr McDowell after prison officers voted against accepting a new pay deal.
"This type of despicable and shameful treatment of our members must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by our conference today. This is industrial relations Progressive Democrat style," he said.
Referring to the Minister's plan to privatise the prison escort service and to hand the running of the country's remaining open prisons - Loughan House in Co Cavan and Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow - to an independent agency, Mr Keaveney said prison officers were the only staff qualified to operate the prisons.
"The safety of staff, the safety of the inmates, and indeed the safety of the local people living in close proximity to an open centre, and the years of experience gained by prison officers working at these open centres . . .
cannot at the stroke of a pen be handed over to some other agency," he said.
The POA is due to meet in closed session at the conference later today to discuss its response to the prison privatisation programme.