Pubdate: Wed, 20 Feb 2008
Source: Irish Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
Contact:  http://www.independent.ie/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/213
Pubdate: 20 Feb 2008
Author: Patricia McDonagh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

AHERN PLEDGES CLAMPDOWN ON DRUGS IN PRISONS

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night pledged tough  security measures 
would eliminate the availability of  drugs in Irish prisons.

However, he refused to be drawn on the issue of prison  officers 
being granted the power to arrest and detain  visitors smuggling 
drugs into jails.

Mr Ahern was placed under pressure after it emerged  that more than 
75pc of drug tests in prisons had proved  positive over the past three years.

Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore accused the  Government of failing 
on its commitment to make prisons  a drug-free area.

However, Mr Ahern said the figures were not  "representative of all prisoners".

When tackled by Mr Gilmore on the subject of allowing  prison 
officers to arrest visitors bringing drugs into  Irish prisons, Mr 
Ahern said he was unsure of the legal  consequences of such an act.

Mr Ahern said the Government was determined to  eliminate the spread 
of drugs in prison by using a  "carrot and stick" approach.

"Security detectors are being used to search persons  entering 
prisons. The security in place is the same as  that employed at 
airports and is thus at a very high  level. Previously, it involved 
only random checks," he  added.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom