Prisoners should be safe 'regardless of gender', says Harris

'There is no circumstance, regardless of gender, where anybody should be at risk of violence in a prison,' said Justice Minister Simon Harris. Picture date: Brian Lawless

The Irish Prison Service must prioritise the “safety and wellbeing” of prisoners, regardless of their gender, Justice Minister Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris was speaking following comments made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Tuesday in relation to the possibility of violent transgender women being incarcerated in women's prisons.