Over 600 mobile phones have been seized from prisons so far this year, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell told the Prison Officers' Association (POA) conference in Sligo today.
Mr McDowell said the phones had been found through the use of new technologies including modern cameras used to search previously difficult areas such as hollow bed legs, drains or under floorboards.
Michael McDowell ordered an inquiry into how a mobile phone was used by a prisoner
The Tánaiste also told the conference that although the overwhelming majority of prison officers are "professional, dedicated, honest and hardworking officers" they are being "let down by those who traffic in contraband within the prison system.
"It is incumbent on the Irish Prison Service to stand firm against those who seek to jeopardise both the good reputation of law-abiding officers and indeed the safety and security of both staff and prisoners alike," he added.
POA president Gabriel Keaveny said that it was completely unacceptable to the POA that any person would be involved in trafficking illegal materials into prisons.
"We can wipe out the use of mobile phones in our prisons if the Minister so decides; let's not try to pin this on prison officers." Mr Keaveny said.
"Prison officers all around the country work to block the import of illegal items to prisons on a daily basis. This is difficult work being done without clear direction or policym," he said.
"So let's decide what the policy is, and let's implement it with all the necessary resources and technology available, and let's ensure that we are fully supported at the highest possible levels within the organisation."
Meanwhile it emerged today that the Director General of the Irish Prison Service Brian Purcell, at the request of the Tánaiste, has appointed an investigation team to inquire into the recent breach of security in Portlaoise Prison when a prisoner telephoned RTE Radio's Liveline programme from his prison cell.
The team comprises a retired Garda Superintendent and a senior official from the Irish Prison Service.
Mr Purcell said that the IPS was at an "advanced stage" in installing mobile phone blocking technology in the Portlaoise prison and that it will be rolled out to other prisons "as early as was practicable".
"I am determined that the introduction of these new measures, coupled with the measures already in place and crucially the introduction of mobile phone blocking technology will successfully combat the trafficking of contraband into our prisons," he added.
