THE 1995 report by the Mountjoy Prison Visiting Committee will be published, the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, has said.
The Minister said she had not yet decided how it would be published and she had a number of options. She could publish the report, excluding sections which may be libellous, she could await she Attorney General's advice on whether the sections were libellous, or she could place the report before the Oireachtas.
The Minister was critical of visiting committee members who, she said, had not given her a chance to read the report before they made its contents public.
"Thy didn't, quite frankly, give me the courtesy of being able to look at it before they went public, criticising me for not publishing it, she said yesterday, following, her address to the Prison Officers Association's annual conference in Ennis, Co Clare.
The report, submitted to the Minister two weeks ago, is severely critical of overcrowding at the Dublin prison and of medical services available to prisoners.
Mrs Owen said her Department received the report only 48 hours before its contents began to emerge. She had a duty not to publish anything which might be libellous and so she had sought the Attorney General's advice.
Criticism of her for delaying publication was a "cheap shot" particularly as she had published last year's report the month after receiving it previous Ministers for Justice had delayed publication for up to two years.
The Minister also pointed out that visiting committees' terms of reference allowed them to make observations to her "and I've received little or no communications from any committee".
In her conference address Mrs Owen highlighted the measures taken at Mountjoy and other prisons over the past year to tackle drugs. These included a two week detoxification programme for prisoners at Mountjoy, the introduction of two drug free units for prisoners who want to keep away from drug users and new surveillance equipment in visiting areas.
"I trust these significant developments will be reflected in the 1996 visiting committees' reports," she said.
She told prison officers she was aware of the problems they faced dealing with illegal drugs. She noted that some commentators advocate an approach of resigned acceptance of the situation, coupled with a risk avoidance strategy for law enforcement personnel
"I do not think that this represents the broad public view on what we should do about the drug problem in prisons. I believe that, in this situation, it is better to light one candle than curse the darkness."
In addition to the measures already implemented, she was examining what new steps might be taken, including the introduction of sniffer dogs into prisons. "I am not excluding any option within the law."
The Minister said "real progress was being made in increasing the capacity of prisons towards the 278 extra spaces promised earlier this year. The former military prison at the Curragh would provide 68 spaces by the end of September. A small unit at Castlerea, Co Roscommon, would be ready with 25 spaces by the end of August. More spaces would be provided at Limerick Prison and Portlaoise. In addition, there were plans for a new women's prison and a full scale prison at Castlerea.
"I am determined to progress these two projects as rapidly as possible," she said. Meanwhile, she would be seeking Government approval to spend £11 million annually on refurbishing existing accommodation.
Reviewing prison officer training, Mrs Owen said virtually all "front line" prison staff were trained in "control and restraint" techniques when they encountered violent prisoners. From the beginning of July, these techniques would be "the only means used in controlling such violent incidents".
The Minister said last December's fire at Mountjoy highlighted the value of training and safety procedures. She congratulated the "heroic" staff who had led 50 prisoners to safety.