Mobile phone blocking devices to be installed in prisons
Justice Minister Michael McDowell said mobile phone blocking devices had just been installed in one jail — the Midlands Prison — and will be set up in the remaining institutions.
“I’ve already commenced within the prison system the installation of blocking devices to prevent all mobile phones from being used,” he said.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), the Tánaiste said he agreed with calls at the conference to stop the use of mobile phones within prisons.
“I agree with them completely on that. There’s been a crackdown on the availability of mobile phones; 600, I’m sorry to say, instruments have been seized in the last year.”
He said the Prison Service sourced a number of blocking systems, had tested them and would be rolling them out.
In a further move, Mr McDowell said the Prison Service was also planning a number of isolation wings.
“These will be centres within the prison service where people who are suspected of being organisers of gangland crime will be segregated from other prisoners and under a very strict visiting regime where all their conversations with their visitors, other than with their legal advisers, will be taped.”
On other issues, the Minister thanked the AGSI for backing his Criminal Justice Bill.
Mr McDowell expressed dismay and what he called “self-proclaimed experts” who had criticised the bill on human rights grounds.
The Human Rights Commission, the Bar Council and the Law Society have criticised much of the bill, and the speed at which it is being pushed through the Dáil.
The Tánaiste strongly rejected claims from the AGSI president Paschal Feeney that he was responsible for low morale within the force because he interfered with garda management in its running.
“Morale isn’t low in the Garda Síochána. If people who represent the garda talk down the force and its achievements they will lower morale. Look at the number of people flocking to join. I believe morale is high.”
In relation to Mr Feeney’s criticisms at the lack of firearms training facilities in the force, the Minister said the Department of Finance had given the Garda Commissioner the funding to install ranges, which could be in place within months.
On less than lethal weapons, Mr McDowell said he supported Taser energy guns for the Emergency Response Unit.
He said the Garda Commissioner was considering the introduction of pepper sprays for gardaí on ordinary patrol duties and that he would back his decision.
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