Dáil to debate ban on extended periods of solitary confinement

A bill to ban the use of solitary confinement in Irish prisons for more than 15 consecutive days has been introduced in the Dáil.

Clare Daly, independent socialist TD for Dublin North, yesterday introduced the Prisons (Solitary Confinement) (Amendment) Bill as a private member’s bill.

Introducing the bill, Ms Daly said: “The Bill creates a definition of ‘solitary confinement’ for the first time in Irish law.

“This is critical because in the absence of a definition, those in authority can hide behind words. In fairness, when I asked the Tánaiste about this situation recently, she used many different terms including ‘23-hour lock up’, ‘punishment’ and ‘restricted regimes’.

“All of this language means it is difficult to access data and keep tabs on people’s circumstance and it has potentially serious consequences for prisoners’ human rights.

“We need to call it what it is, which is solitary confinement, and to accept just how serious it is and how damaging the consequences of its use and abuse can be.”