Justice Minister publishes new Prisons Bill
The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has published a new Prisons Bill, which has three specific aims.
It provides a legal basis for contracting out the prisoner escort services, which is one of the contingency measure provided by the Government if no agreement is reached with prison offers on how to cut overtime costs.
Secondly, it allows for pre-trial hearings through video conferencing.
The measure would reduce the security risks of transferring prisoners between the courts and jail.
This measure is expected to be recommended by the committee looking at the issue within the next few weeks.
Thirdly it removes the technical barrier in the prisons act to closing Mountjoy.
Minister McDowell has said having inspected the conditions in the prison it falls far short of the needs of staff and prisoners.
A new facility will be built on a green field site in or near Dublin instead of refurbishing the existing facilities.
