Three of Ireland's prisons have been described as unsafe for both prisoners and prison staff.
A new report says a culture of inter-prisoner intimidation and violence in Mountjoy Prison, Limerick Prison and St Patrick's Institution is so bad that prisoners and staff are at risk.
The findings have been published in a report from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, which answers to the Council of Europe.
The committee visits Irish prisons every four years and its report says that the extent of violence between prisoners is worrying.
The report found that stabbings and assaults with various objects are frequent and many prisoners met by the committee's inspectors bore the marks of these incidents.
It says the increased violence is linked to the availability of drugs and a lack of purposeful activities for prisoners.
On RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Prison Service Director Brian Purcell took issue with the report's claim that three of the facilities were unsafe.
The Government has welcomed the report, but says it does not accept that any of the prisons mentioned are unsafe.
It says that the prison service is working on a continuous basis to develop new ways of preventing contraband getting into prisons.
The Government also says the prison service is committed to providing work, education and exercise activities to all prisoners.
