The Irish Prison Service is strongly committed to tackling the issue of mobile phones and other contraband being smuggled into Irish prisons.

Efforts are made on a continuous basis by to prevent contraband entering our prisons, by for example, the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, upgraded CCTV monitoring, the use of screened visits and the use of daily prisoner and cell searches.

In order to further meet the continuing challenges faced by the Irish Prison Service in relation to preventing prisoners gaining access to contraband such as drugs, mobile phones and weapons, enhanced security screening measures are being introduced, whereby all entrants (prisoners, visitors and staff) to our institutions will be subject to searching and screening.

In this regard airport style walk through detectors are being installed in each closed prison and every visitor and member of staff will be required to pass through the detector before being granted access to the prison.

In addition x-ray scanners are also being provided to each closed prison and all hand bags, briefcases, packages, coats etc. will be subject to screening.

The deployment of sniffer dog units is another important element of the new security measures.

Even with the introduction of these new security measures there is still a risk that contraband can be smuggled into a prison and that is why the new measures incorporate teams who specialise in gathering intelligence and searching for smuggled items of contraband such as mobile phones and drugs.

The Prison Service has introduced modern cameras and probe systems aimed at detecting, inter alia, mobile phones. These assist in searching previously difficult areas such as hollow chair or bed legs, U-bends in toilets, drain holes, under floor boards and other cavities. These new technologies are a valuable asset in this area and there have been a number of significant seizures directly as a result of this new equipment.

Since 1 May, 2007 it is an offence under s36 of the Prisons Act 2007 for a prisoner, without the permission of the Governor, to possess or use a mobile phone. The penalties for this offence are as follows:

On summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both.