McDowell set to clash with Prison Officers

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell looks set for a showdown with prison officers, after the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) yesterday told members it could not recommend the Government’s overtime offer.

Sources believe it is now unlikely the POA’s 3,000-plus members will vote in favour of the offer when balloting begins tomorrow.

Mr McDowell warned prison officers on Wednesday that the Government had given the green light for drastic action to cut the prison overtime bill if the deal was rejected.

Under the offer, prison officers would be obliged under contract to work 360 hours overtime at 1.8 times the hourly rate of pay.

While Mr McDowell declined to give specifics of what he would do, he said that “major steps” would have to be taken.

It is understood this includes the possible closure of up to four prisons and privatisation of some services, such as prisoner escorts.

Any such action could result in industrial action on the part of prison officers, with potentially serious consequences for the Prison Service.

Mr McDowell said action had to be taken to cut the overtime bill, which was set to reach 64 million this year, and stay within the Prison Service’s budget of 300m.

The National Executive Council of the POA yesterday said it made its decision not to recommend the offer after discussing the issue at length.