The State is to begin charging prisoners for a range of non-essential services including escorts, private healthcare and telephone calls, it has emerged.
Other measures included in the Prisons Bill 2006, published by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell last night, include provisions to privatise prison escorts.
The Bill also contains provisions to ensure that work carried out by inmates will not fall within the remit of the Minimum Wage Act 2000.
One measure provides for inmates to be charged for "certain optional services". These include goods and services not made generally available such as telephone calls, private medical treatment and the use of prison escorts for matters not related to imprisonment.
The Prisons Bill was first published last year. However, the version released last night contains many new proposals.
Among some of the other main elements of the new legislation are:
video conferencing of court hearings;
placing the office of Inspector of Prisons on a statutory basis;
mandatory drug testing;
a system of prison discipline and appeals by inmates.
The new legislation establishes for the first time a system of public consultation regarding the construction of new prisons.
A lack of public consultation about the construction of the new prison in Thornton Hall, north Co Dublin, has resulted in vehement opposition from local residents.
Under the new measures contained in the Prisons Bill 2006, a rapporteur is to be appointed for each new prison construction project. This person would take submissions from members of the public and any other interested parties.
An exterior visual representation of the proposed new facility would also be made available along with an environmental impact study.
The rapporteur would prepare a report for the Minister for Justice, who may amend plans on the basis of the submissions.
Plans for each new facility would then be put before the houses of the Oireachtas. If approved, they would be confirmed by an Act of the Oireachtas before development could begin.
Mr McDowell said the Bill was an important measure in modernising the prison system. A spokeswoman said the Minister envisaged the Bill would be enacted by Easter.
Provisions on the privatisation of prison escorts are likely to prove very controversial with the Prison Officers Association.
During the dispute over prison overtime, which was resolved last year, Mr McDowell had threatened to privatise escorts to cut costs if officers did not agree to a system of annualised hours.
When the dispute was resolved the threat was rescinded.
The enabling legislation on escort privatisation in the new Bill would give any future minister for justice the upper hand in an industrial dispute with the Prison Officers Association.
