Following today\u2019s engagement of the Justice Committee with the Office of the Inspector of Prisons, Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon said the Inspector\u2019s appearance was a stark and hugely important intervention in the conversation on prisons and public safety.<\/p>\n
Deputy Gannon said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence presented to the Committee today by the Chief Inspector of Prisons was among the clearest and most serious warnings we have heard about the state of our prison system.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was unequivocal that some people in Irish prisons are being held in conditions that are inhumane and degrading, and that this situation is unworthy of Ireland in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was particularly striking was the strength of the evidence laid out around why our continued reliance on short custodial sentences is actively making the problem worse. The Inspector was clear that overcrowding undermines safety, rehabilitation, mental-health care and basic human dignity – and that simply building more prison spaces will not solve these problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Committee also heard very serious concerns about the legal position the State is now placing itself in – the Inspector referenced comments from the Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture that the current prison conditions could amount to a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, with a real prospect of successful litigation against the State.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a direct consequence of political choices and continued inaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not safe for anyone – not for those in custody and most certainly not for victims. A prison system that is overcrowded, chaotic and degrading does not reduce reoffending or make communities safer. It does the opposite.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Inspector\u2019s appearance should be a line in the sand. We urgently need a serious, evidence-based conversation about how we use prisons in this country, the immediate ratification of OPCAT, and proper investment in rehabilitation and mental health supports.\u201d<\/p>\n
January 13th, 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Following today\u2019s engagement of the Justice Committee with the Office of the Inspector of Prisons, Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon said the Inspector\u2019s appearance was a stark and hugely important intervention in the conversation on prisons and public safety. Deputy Gannon said: \u201cThe evidence presented to the Committee today by the Chief Inspector of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13549,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[316,411,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gary-gannon","category-justice","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n