Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has confirmed that a number of prison officers were suspended and facing criminal proceedings in relation to drug smuggling.
"A number of prison officers are suspended in relation to criminal proceedings pending in a number of cases," Mr McDowell said on RTÉ radio yesterday evening.
However, Eugene Dennehy of the Prison Officers' Association said he was unaware that any prison officer was facing charges in relation to drug smuggling.
"I heard McDowell say there are suspensions...I'm not aware of anyone suspended for drugs," he told RTÉ radio yesterday evening.
Mr McDowell was responding to comments by Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen, the inspector of prisons, that the prison system was a failure. He said he "accepted there were problems within the prison system" but rejected that it was a failure.
However, he said that most Irish people agreed with his opposition to conjugal visits and letting prisoners out during the day. "He might think I'm conservative. I think I'm common sense."
Mr McDowell said he was not surprised by Mr Justice Kinlen's comments as he had indicated his feelings to him at a recent meeting.
"Mr Justice Kinlen told me in conversation that he felt that I had not treated him well as an inspector and that, like a dog that's been... ill-treated, he would turn on me and that he was about to turn on me. So, I feel that his remarks today are a little bit unbalanced," Mr McDowell said. He was already acting on a number of points raised by Mr Justice Kinlen, he added.
Mr Justice Kinlen told RTÉ news that the Minister for Justice was too conservative and that the prison service was too bureaucratic. The inspector described his position as a facade and said the human rights of prisoners in jails all over the country are being breached every day.