The independent Inspector of Prisons, Patricia Gilheaney, is to carry out an "urgent preliminary investigation" into allegations that unauthorised covert surveillance has been conducted in prisons by a private detective agency.
The investigation was ordered by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan on foot of reports in the Irish Examiner in which a whistleblower claimed that tracking devices were used on prison officers' cars, and conversations between solicitors and prisoners were recorded.
The Prison Officers Association has described the claims as "a serious security matter" and called for An Garda Siochána to investigate.
Mr Flanagan said he is aware of the allegations that were made in an affidavit in court proceedings concerning a proposed temporary transfer of a prison officer by the Irish Prison Service.
The minister said that while he is constrained in what he can say about proceedings before the courts "these allegations raise serious issues which need to be addressed".
Ms Gilheaney has been directed to "carry out an urgent preliminary investigation into the allegations to determine as far as possible the facts", his statement reads.
Mr Flanagan had met the Acting Director of the Irish Prison Service, Don Culliton, to discuss the matter.
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The investigation will be a statutory investigation under Section 31 of the Prisons Act 2007 which means there is a statutory obligation on prison governors and all prison staff to co-operate with the inspector, and there is also provision in the section for the report to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.
In his statement, Mr Flanagan said that "surveillance can be necessary to prevent illegal trafficking of substances into prisons, but this must of course be carried out in accordance with the law.
"It must be stressed that these are allegations, and we must in the first instance determine if they are factual.
"This preliminary investigation will put us in a better position to consider whether further steps need to be taken, such as a more formal inquiry, as has been called for," added Mr Flanagan.
However, the minister's approach has been criticised by the Prison Officers' Association.
In a statement, the association said it was "surprised" that Mr Flanagan had commissioned the Inspector of Prisons to investigate rather than calling in the gardaí.
The POA said that it was writing to the minister, asking if he could provide further details on the allegations.
The statement said: "We are asking for a response as a matter of urgency, as we would be deeply concerned about any practice that could impact on the safety and security of our members.
"A similar security matter did emerge in the past regarding the installation of covert CCTV equipment in a Dublin prison, after which we were given assurances by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that there would be no repeat of the practice.
"A complaint was made to the Data Protection Commissioner at that time and this led to the assurance we were given from the Director General."
Sinn Féin's justice spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has described the covert surveillance claims as "deeply concerning".
